Former Ryder Cup star David Howell's determination not to let his career sink without trace finally paid rich dividends in the 3 Irish Open at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club.
Down at 479th in the world - he was ninth four years ago - Howell emerged from the wilderness with a seven under par 64 in the first round.
"I've never wanted to give up, but it's crossed my mind that if I carry on playing as I did last year I wouldn't have a career to be worried about," said the 35 year old.
Five birdies and then an eagle on the 519 yard 16th lifted Howell into a one stroke lead over Ireland's Damien McGrane and Australian left hander Richard Green.
Last year's runner up Robert Rock - he actually took the first prize of over £400,000 because the winner was amateur Shane Lowry - also handed in a 65, but was then disqualified for a scorecard mix up.
McGrane out scored his illustrious compatriots Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell by three and five shots respectively, while Darren Clarke, Michael Hoey and Paul Lawrie shot 66, and Rory McIlroy 67.
Howell, who did not drop a shot today, said: "That was nice. Haven't done that for a long time but I holed a few bombs today.
"I chipped in and I think I holed three long ones as well. As it happens, I had a few more chances that I missed but I certainly holed more than my fair share, which in fairness you normally do when you shoot 64."
Having played his best round this year, he added: "I just haven't got off to a good start all year.
"Obviously I've not been playing well, or as well as I know I can, but my form has not been that bad.
"But it's pretty hard to make cuts out here when you shoot 73 in the first round, puts added pressure, and I've been dying to get off to a nice start. That finally happened today."
Green, who went out in 33 and came back in 32 like McGrane, said: "I felt very comfortable when I first saw the
course on Tuesday and practised and played very nicely.
"I thought this is a nice old golf course for a change that's a little bit old school. I felt very comfortable out there. I played very nicely today.
"I'm not known as one of the longer hitters out on tour, and when you get a golf course that feels like the sort of golf course that I grew up on, length wise, putting surfaces, it's nice.
"It's nice to play a golf course like that again."
McGrane, who naturally hopes to pick up where Lowry left off last year, added: "I smothered a few tee shots today which is unlike me but that's golf.
"Nothing is ever...it's never 100 per cent all the way around. But I made pars when I was struggling and I picked off the board slowly and surely and that's golf and exactly what I've done."
With talk of a possible 59 - something never achieved on The European Tour - the course held up well given that there was no more than a breeze.
Clarke, continuing a recent revival, said: "I was wrong in my initial assessment.
"This morning it would have been impossible to get Killarney playing any easier. Yes the guys will get more familiar with it, but there's so many places that they can put the pins that we just can't get at."
McIlroy, at eighth in the world the highest-ranked player on view, made eight birdies, but also threw in four bogeys.
Harrington did not drop a shot, but admitted his keenness to end almost two years without a win is making him more tense than he would like to be.
"Sometimes you find it very hard to win and then all of a sudden the floodgates open."
He should know - his first major title in 2007 was quickly followed by two more.
McDowell, hoping for the same thing after capturing The US Open last month, stated: "I just need to sharpen up across the board. I said someone would go super low, but you can defend this course by hiding the pins."
