Luke Guthrie made light of a 7,000-mile journey to lead an American one-two-three in the first round of the BMW Masters.
Guthrie finished fifth in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas on Sunday after a closing 64 and carried on where he left off at Lake Malaren in Shanghai.
The 23-year-old, who only turned professional last year, carded birdies at the second, third and seventh to reach the turn in 33, before also picking up shots on the 13th and 14th and chipping in for an eagle on the par-five 15th.
After saving par on the final three holes, Guthrie signed for a flawless seven-under-par 65 to lead by three shots from former Open champion John Daly, with Peter Uihlein returning a 69 to ensure the only Americans in the field occupied the top three places.
“It was a great day,” said Guthrie, who was one of only 13 players to break par in the windy conditions.
“It was one of the better rounds I’ve ever played. It’s playing tough out there, it’s hard to control the ball exactly where you want to leave it and today when I did miss I gave myself a chance and I was able to short-game my way around.
“I was really looking forward to this tournament on my schedule and I just can’t be more happy to be here.
“I wanted to come over here, to get used to playing kind of a global schedule.
“I was able to stay up on my 12-hour flight and crashed at about 9pm here on Tuesday night that was about as quick as I could get here from Las Vegas so I’m actually on decent Shanghai time right now.”
Daly’s score was as remarkable as his garish red, black and yellow trousers which he described as “ketchup and mustard” given that it was his first competitive round since July.
The 47-year-old underwent elbow surgery after pulling out of the Greenbrier Classic after three holes of his second round but has returned to action a few weeks earlier than expected thanks to icing his arm and a diet of chocolate milk.
“I’ve always been a quick healer. I don’t know why,” Daly said. “He (his doctor) figured four months. I did everything he told me to do. I usually don’t listen to anybody.”
Craig Lee was the highest placed Scot, finishing on 70, with Scott Jamieson two back on 72. Marc Warren closed on 73, with Paul Lawrie one back on 74, and Stephen Gallacher on 77.
This week’s event is the first of four tournaments which make up the inaugural Final Series on the European Tour, with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson holding a lead of e425,570 (£362,660) over Graeme McDowell at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.
But with a first prize of e850,000 (£725,000) on offer here and a total prize fund of almost £20 million in the four events, the battle to become European No 1 in Dubai in mid-November is far from over.