Chie Arimura hit first from the tee in the opening round in the HSBC Women's Champions at Tanah Merah and was soon leading the way on the leader-board as well. Three under par after 13 holes, the 24-year-old Japanese player holed from 15 yards at the 14th to go to five under.
At that stage she was three clear of America's Wendy Ward and England's Karen Stupples but, as she signed off with a four-under-par 68 she was a slightly less extravagant two ahead of Natalie Gulbis.
Arimura, who is five foot three inches, was playing alongside the 5 foot 10 inch Brittany Lincicome. The big-hitting Lincicome was often 40 yards ahead of her off the tee but the two were mostly side by side as they walked down the fairway.
It was as they made their way down the 15th that a concerned Lincicome asked Arimura if her family were there to witness her amazing play. Sadly, the answer was in the negative. However, as applies with every Japanese golfer playing at this level, there was no shortage of support from the Japanese media.
By then, a proliferating number of photographers were switching from Ai Miyazato's group to see what Arimura would make of the last three holes.
She pinned down a good enough five at the 15th before prompting a series of relieved gasps as she salvaged her par at the short par-four 16th.
Having driven into the swale to the right of the green, she opted for a Phil Mickelson-type lob wedge for her second rather than playing safe with her putter. In truth, the shot she had in mind was every bit as fancy as her typically-Japanese outfit of pretty frills, lace and stripes.
The noise from the plane landing on the runway beyond would not have helped but, whatever the reason, she failed to hit hard enough at her first attempt and the ball rolled back to her feet.
Her second attempt was OK rather than spectacular but, typically, she holed the ten-footer she needed to walk off with a par.
She dropped a shot at the next but, to her credit, signed off with a well-deserved four and a 68 which was the envy of all those still battling what was an ever more teasing wind.
Up until 2008, Aramura, who plies her trade on the Japanese tour, had nothing in the way of a win. In 2009, though, she made everyone sit up as she won five times. Now, she has moved into the top 20 on the Rolex World Rankings, where the only compatriots she has above her are Ai Miyazato in in sixth place and Sakura Yokomine at 14th.
She has a huge respect for Miyazato, with whom she was at high school. "Ai,"she said, feelingly in the useful touch of English she has at her disposal, "is really good."
Lincicome, on the way round, had asked Arimura if she was thinking of trying the LPGA Tour. When Arimura said she was not sure, the American told her, "You're way good enough to play in the States. You should definitely give it a try."
A host of competitors were lurking on one under par, these including Karrie Webb, Michelle Wie and, inevitably, Yani Tseng, the World No. 1 who is hoping to make this HSBC Women's Champions her fifth tournament in a row.
