Darren Clarke justified his position as pre-tournament favourite in the first round of the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open today.
Clarke feels he has had a "very average" season by his standards despite winning the English Open for the third time in four years at the Forest of Arden in June.
The Tyroneman was very disappointed by his joint 37th place in the Open at Muirfield and took two weeks holiday in Portugal to recharge the batteries.
It appeared to have done the trick as he made a good start on his first visit to the course that will stage, albeit after extensive changes, the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Birdies at the second and sixth took the 33-year-old out in 34, two under par, and a similar effort on the inward nine gave him a four under 68.
"I'm very pleased with that," said Clarke. "I played very nicely and hit 18 greens and gave myself a lot of chances.
"The greens are very difficult to read though with a lot of grain and I missed several good chances.
"I hit a couple of disappointing drives on the last two holes, losing them both to the right, which meant I wasn't able to get for the green on the 18th. But overall I'm pleased with the way I hit it."
Clarke was two shots off the early pace set by playing partner Bradley Dredge, whose 66 established a new course record as preferred lies had been in operation in the previous two years.
Defending champion Paul McGinley came into the event having missed the cut in four of his last five events, but the hard work he has been putting in on his game appeared to be paying off.
Three birdies and 15 pars gave the Irishman an opening 68 and was some welcome good news for Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance.
Torrance was also keeping a close eye on another out of form team member having been paired with Phil Price in the opening two rounds, the duo both picking up birdies on the second to move into red figures.
Off the other Irish players in the field, Des Smyth and Ronan Rafferty were also going well at three and two under respectively.
Philip Walton and the European Tour’s newest winner, Graeme McDowell, were both one under while David Higgins is a disappointing 7 over par.