Darren Clarke, who thought he had only a one in 100 chance of being fit to play, began the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open with a five-under-par 67 in the searing heat of Heidelberg today.
The Tyroneman tore a thigh muscle while fishing on the River Test in Hampshire on Monday and was told he was "extremely unlikely" to recover in time for the £1.6million event - and could also miss next week's Volvo PGA championship.
But instead Clarke goes into the second round only three strokes behind German leader Alex Cejka and two ahead of defending champion Tiger Woods.
Cejka, winless since he finished sixth on the 1995 Order of Merit, is one in front of New Zealander Greg Turner and two clear of Colin Montgomerie.
Like Clarke, Montgomerie pulled out of the eve-of-tournament pro-am - in his case after 11 holes because of back trouble - but he too made a speedy recovery helped by pain-killing tablets.
"I've taken them twice a day every day since I had to withdraw from the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth in January - I can't play if I don't," said Montgomerie.
"It's very worrying and I never thought I'd get to this stage, but I'm 38. Look at Martina Hingis - she's only 21." The Swiss tennis star's career is threatened by injury.
Clarke is still not certain he will be able to complete 72 holes. "If I'd felt any real twinge I'd have walked in," he said. "I just couldn't turn onto the ball all day, but the physios have done a great job. I thought I was 99% certain to pull out a couple of days ago."
Cejka was joint leader of the Open championship at Lytham with a round to go last summer, but dropped back to 13th and has yet to recapture the magic he showed in winning the Volvo Masters seven years ago.
The 31-year-old is still capable of low rounds, though, and commented: "Sometimes you just feel it's your day and making a lot of putts was the key."
Woods came from 10 behind at halfway to win by four last year, so will be unconcerned about trailing by five at this stage. Playing partner Eduardo Romero, though, was delighted to out-score the world number one by two.
Woods, winner also in 1999, remains firm favourite for a title worth £300,000. Small change, of course, to a man paid a reported US two million dollars just to appear and given a Maserati to drive around for a week.
PA