Tiger Woods unveiled his new driver today, but it was his putter that gave him a share of the early clubhouse lead at the American Express world championship in Atlanta.
The world number one - also this week's defending champion - finished his day's work with a 30-foot birdie for a three under par 67 at the Capital City Club Crabapple.
Down in a lowly 148th place in driving accuracy on the US Tour this season, Woods went off in search of a remedy during his month-long lay-off and hopes he has found it with his Nike prototype.
It did not totally behave itself, only six of the 14 fairways being hit, but 11 of his drives were measured in excess of 300 yards and that allowed him to get away with some of his waywardness.
His first bogey did not come until the 17th, but the response on the next raised the biggest cheer from a disappointingly small crowd.
It enabled him to join South Korean KJ Choi, although out on the course Tim Herron was four under with five to play and Rocco Mediate was on the same mark after 12 holes.
Spain's Ignacio Garrido also stood four under with one to go, but double-bogeyed it for a 68 after driving left and then three-putting.
It was another day to forget for Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington was having a tough time too.
Montgomerie has had 12 early exits already this season - the same as in his seven-year reign as European No 1 - and at five over par after 17 holes was down in joint 60th place in the 72-strong field.
At least there is no cut for him to worry about this week, however.
Harrington was two over after 11 and the Irish challenge was being led instead by Darren Clarke, winner of the NEC world title in August. He was two under after six holes and joint sixth.
Welshman Phillip Price produced what he described as a "battling" 70, coming back from two over with seven to play.
The Pontypridd golfer had three successive bogeys around the turn, but was on the green in two at the 565-yard 12th with a drive and three-wood, then hit his tee shot to six feet on the next.
"I'm pleased with level par, but I need to improve my hitting," he said. "You've got to drive it on the fairway. That's the key issue here."
Londoner Brian Davis, in his first round since his course record 62 at the Old Course at St Andrews on Sunday, birdied the first from a fairway bunker and went out in a two under 33.
But he then let things slide, finishing with a double bogey six for a one over 71.
His drive pitched in the face of the bunker and he just missed the green with his third shot, then chipped six feet past and missed.
"I've never putted on greens as quick as these in Europe and it's such a disadvantage," he commented. "They're the best I've ever putted on - like a snooker table." Nothing like as as flat, though.
"As hard as this course is I left a lot out there. I could have gone really low, but I missed a couple of fairways by a foot and didn't putt particularly well."
European Order of Merit leader Ernie Els four-putted from only 15 feet on the fifth for a double bogey six and was one over after 16.
Justin Rose and David Howell were level after five and two holes respectively, while Scotland's Alastair Forsyth fell back from two under to one over after a double bogey six at the ninth and bogey on the next.
Back-to-form Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Mark Foster were among the late starters.