Scottish duo Andrew Oldcorn and Raymond Russell delighted the local crowds in the early stages of the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles this morning.
The pair took advantage of perfect playing conditions on the Centenary Course, which will stage the 2014 Ryder Cup, to move to the top of the leaderboard.
And another Scot, veteran Sandy Lyle, was just one shot behind as he battles to earn his card for next season on the European Tour.
Edinburgh's Russell had made a slow start with one birdie and one bogey in his outward half of 36, but then rolled in five birdies in six holes from the turn to move to five under.
Also starting on the back nine, Oldcorn had carded seven birdies in his first 13 holes, bogeys on the 10th and 13th preventing him from taking the outright lead.
Lyle is in danger of not having playing rights for any tour next season after losing his US Tour card and having to rely on being in the top 40 of the career money list in Europe.
The 44-year-old currently lies 123rd on the Order of Merit this season and needs to climb into the top 115 to retain his card for the 2003 season.
The former US Masters and Open champion probably needs to earn another £22,000 to do that, equivalent to ninth place this week, and was going the right way about it today.
A bogey on the 12th cancelled out a birdie on the previous hole before he carded four birdies in five holes from the 16th to move to four under.
Des Smyth and Philip Walton are the only two Irish players in the field. Smyth carded a first round score of 71 while Walton is among the afternoon starters. Pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott, at 61st the highest world-ranked player competing this week, takes to the course after lunch.