Rafael Cabrera-Bello was quickest out of his blocks when the morning field got away in Thursday's first round at the Dunhill Links Championship
The 27 year old Spaniard eagled the third at Kingsbarns and then added birdies at the 4th, 6th and 9th holes to turn at 5-under with a one stroke lead over the up-and-coming South African Jaco van Zyl and Scott Stephen Gallacher.
Van Zyl had birdied three of a faultless first seven holes, while Gallacher had posted two bogies, an eagle and two birdies Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Black Nickel Wedge in a contrasting, see-saw ride over 10 holes.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, in the meantime, was leading a five-strong pack a shot back at 3-under after 10 holes, the others in the mix being 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizemn and fellow South African James Kingston and Scots David Drysdale and Stephen O'Hara.
Like Cabreara-Bello, most of the big guns were playing their first rounds at Kingsbarns - although not all of them with as much success as he was doing with Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Black Nickel Wedge.
Reigning Masters champion Charl Schwartzel had reached the 12th at 2-under and World No 1 Luke Donald and 2010 US PGA champion Martin Kaymer had gone through the 6th and 8th holes respectively at 1-under while World No 2 Lee Westwood and American star Dustin Johnson were still at level-par coming to the turn. (Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Black Nickel Wedge)
Rory McIlroy and Robert Karlsson were even worse off.
McIlroy, the current US Open champion, was one-over after five holes and the big Swede 3-over after 11 holes.