Former Open Championship winner Paul Lawrie raced into an early share of the lead as the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar began at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo.
The Scot fired six birdies without a dropped shot through his first 12 holes to be one shot ahead of France's Gregory Bourdy as the first round began.
Having birdied the fifth, Lawrie then recorded a hattrick of gains from the seventh to turn in a four under par 32.
And the 41 year old made it four birdies in a row at the 364 yard tenth, before picking up another shot at the par three 12th.
Three-time European Tour winner Bourdy was also off to a good start - an eagle at the par five 13th helping him to reach five under after 14 holes.
Bourdy's compatriot Jean-Baptiste Gonnet was in a share of third on four under with England's James Morrison and Dutchman Joost Luiten.
Two big names were making their return to golf this week and were playing in the same group.
But while Sergio Garcia recovered from a double bogey at the 16th with two birdies to be a respectable level par after 13 holes, things were not going quite as well for José Maria Olazábal, who after a lengthy injury absence was two over par.
