Ireland's Gary Murphy is one of the leading pack setting the way on the opening day of the lucrative and star-studded Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Playing at Carnoustie, the Kilkenny golfer was tied on four under through nine holes after picking up a trio of birdies from the 13th before adding another at the 18th, his ninth, to turn in 32.
The €4.4 million event is unique on the European Tour in that it pits the world's leading golfers alongside a host of celebrities from the entertainment and sporting industry as well as the business world in a pro-am format.
Padraig Harrington is the defending champion after he teamed up with Irish businessman JP McManus and triumphed just weeks after Europe won the Ryder Cup at the Belfry last year.
Another unique aspect of this tournament, which includes Hollywood stars such as Samuel L Jackson and Hugh Grant, is that three courses are used along the Fife coastline. The 168 professionals and their amateur partners each play St Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
A cut will then be made with the top 60 professionals and those tied for 60th making it into the final day. Additionally, there will be a cut to the top 20 teams who will complete the tournament over the Old Course on the final day.
Murphy shares the early lead with Henrik Bjornstad (11), Michael Campbell (8), Arjun Atwal (5), - all playing Carnoustie - Adam Mednick (7), who is playing Kingsbarns and Soren Hansen (7), who started on the Old Course.
Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley both got themselves to within one shot of the early lead on three under after 13 and seven holes, respectively. Clarke carded four birdies and just the one dropped shot at Carnoustie while McGinley's symmetrical card read birdies at the third, fifth and seventh with pars in between.
Further down the field Ronan Rafferty was one under after eight holes at Kingsbarns, as was Peter Lawrie through four at the Old Course.
Harrington failed to ignite his defence, however, and was level after 13 holes at Carnoustie with a mixed bag of three birdies, as many bogeys, and the rest pars.
Veteran Des Smyth, who took time out from a highly successful debut season on the US Champions Tour (formerly the US Senior Tour) to play in Scotland, was one over after 13 at Carnoustie. Graeme McDowell was also one over after 12 at the Old Course.