Sergio Garcia took advantage of the early-morning conditions to grab the early lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, as Tiger Woods made a nightmare start.
The Spaniard made the most of calmer winds to fire a seven-under 65 and open up a one-shot clubhouse lead over Chile's Felipe Aguilar and South African George Coetzee.
Ian Poulter heads a group of four players on five under, while Woods lies 12 strokes off the pace after failing to post a birdie in a disappointing opening-round 77.
Beginning on the back nine, Garcia birdied two of his first three holes before posting back-to-back gains from the 17th to reach the turn in 33.
Another birdie at the second was followed by a stunning approach and an eagle-three at the next, before Garcia cancelled out a short missed birdie putt at the fourth by picking up a shot at the fifth.
The only dropped shot came as the wind picked up later in his round, just as the afternoon starters were getting underway, when Garcia was unable to get up-and-down from off the eighth green.
"It was a nice way to start, a good solid round," Garcia told Sky Sports. "It was getting a little bit tasty there at the end so it was nice to be able to get in with a good score.
"The wind was definitely blowing harder as we went on. I got away with a couple of shots here and there, and I chipped and putted nicely."
Coetzee recovered from an opening-hole bogey to post seven birdies on his way to a six-under 66, with Aguilar alongside him after posting a blemish-free round.
A final-hole birdie took Poulter to within two of the lead alongside David Lipsky, Nacho Elvira and Nino Bertasio, with Open champion Henrik Stenson part of the group a further stroke back.
"It has been nine years since I've been here and I've got to familiarise myself with it again and I've done that pretty well again today," Poulter said.
"I think there were still a couple of mis-hits in there and being the perfectionist I am, I want to eradicate those. When I do, we'll start to shoot some real low rounds of golf."
Matt Fitzpatrick, playing alongside Woods, kicked off the week with a three-under 69, while Lee Westwood and Danny Willett signed for matching 71s.
Watch the Dubai Desert Classic throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf