Padraig Harrington surprised even himself when carding a first round 66 on his 2003 bow in the Malaysian Open yesterday at the Mines Resort in Kuala Lumpur.
It was a tremendous effort in hot and humid conditions after a nine-week winter break when he went an unprecedented 42 days without even touching a golf club.
"I'm delighted," said the Dubliner, who won his final two tournaments of last year, the BMW Asian Open in Taiwan and the Target World Challenge, beating tournament host Tiger Woods by two shots in the latter.
"I am surprised considering the way I was hitting it on Monday and Tuesday. I played conservatively all day because I wasn't that confident in my mental thinking but I took my chances on the par fives and easier par fours when they came.
"After a long break usually I'm a slow starter and I wasn't putting too much emphasis on today but it was nice to have a good first round and there is the potential to build on it now."
His compatriot and Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley bogeyed two of his last three holes and had to settle for a 67.
Lee Westwood joined Harrington in carding a 66. Six birdies and just one dropped shot promises better things from the former European number one and the signs of him ending his long slump look promising. Westwood has turned to coach David Leadbetter in an effort to recapture the form that brought him seven wins worldwide in 2000 and end Colin Montgomerie's reign on top of the Order of Merit.
The 29-year-old has not won since October that year, but despite missing the cut by one shot in Perth last week, believes he can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.
"It was difficult last week to concentrate on scoring in my first event after working with David, but I've been working hard on the range and I felt it was time to free-wheel out there," said Westwood who finished the day four shots behind leaders Arjun Atwal of India and Swede Fredrik Andersson.
Yorkshire's Simon Dyson was another to enjoy a welcome return to form with a six-under-par 65. Dyson won twice in Asia to top the money list in 2000 but has yet to make the breakthrough in Europe.
Atwal was among the first players out yesterday morning and missed out on a solid gold trophy despite breaking the course record. Mines Resort founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew put up the 24-carat trophy, worth approximately £7,000, for the first player to better the current record of 63 held by Tiger Woods.
Atwal did precisely that with nine birdies and no dropped shot in his flawless 62, but with players allowed to lift and clean their ball on the fairway, his effort will not count for record purposes.
