Darren Clarke leads The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond on day one after a six under par 65 clearly focussed on his last chance to qualify for The Open Championship next week.
The Ryder Cup hero will return in the morning a stroke ahead of England's Graeme Storm, Ireland's Damien McGrane – who made the turn in 31 shots -and Italian Edoardo Molina all on 5 under.
Clarke did not drop a shot all day, collecting four birdies in six holes from the third, making further birdies at the 13th and 14th and then saving par from a greenside bunker on the last during a torrential downpour.
Shane Lowry is 3 under after day one following a round of 68.
Peter Lawrie signed for a 70 and is one shot further back on 2 under.
Graeme McDowell, returning to European Tour life three weeks after his US Open Championship triumph, trails by six after what he described as a "mixed bag".
2010 US Masters champion Phil Mickelson is on the same level par mark as he began his bid for the top two finish which would take him to World Number One for the first time.
McDowell warned people not to expect great things from him after so much celebrating, but closing with two birdies means a third successive win - he lifted The Celtic Manor Wales Open before heading to Pebble Beach - cannot be ruled out yet.
Gareth Maybin is also level par after his round of 72.
Korea's Y E Yang, the third current Major Champion in the tournament, returned a 72.
18 year old Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa shot 67 and is in a group tied for fifth which also includes 1995 Open Championship winner John Daly.
For a while Omega Mission Hills World Cup-winning brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari were tied at the top, but Francesco bogeyed the last two for a 68.
Paul McGinley and Michael Hoey are on 3 over
