Jamie Donaldson threatened European Tour history on his way to grabbing a one-shot lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, where Rory McIlroy got off to a strong start.
The Welshman fired a 10-under 62 at Emirates Golf Club to move ahead of Anthony Wall and morning pacesetter David Horsey, with Tyrrell Hatton a further stroke back in fourth and McIlroy part of the group on seven under.
Donaldson raised hopes of becoming the first player to shoot a sub-60 round on the European Tour when he got to 11 under with two holes to go, only for him to fail to find the birdie-birdie finish required.
"You can never be disappointed with 10 under," Donaldson said. "I didn't know the course record, I was only thinking of 59 really.
"I fancied it. It wasn't to be. Everybody wants to shoot 59, but it's something that is only possible if you're playing really good golf, and that's gone now."
Beginning on the back nine alongside Richie Ramsay and Pablo Larrazabal, Donaldson birdied two of his opening three holes before following an eagle-three at the 13th with gains at the 17th and 18th.
Donaldson birdied the second and surged up the leaderboard with four consecutive gains from the fourth, with the world No 292 then almost holing his pitch from off the eighth green.
Needing an eagle at the par-four ninth to make a 59 round or a birdie to break the course record, Donaldson found the rough with his approach and then missed his seven-foot putt to save par.
Horsey had set the morning clubhouse target after finding 10 birdies in his opening-round 63, with Wall matching his total late in a day of low scoring.
McIlroy continued his strong start to 2018 by posting a blemish-free 65 to sit in a five-way tie for fifth spot, while Sergio Garcia began his title defence with a five-under 67.
Last week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood kicked off his week with an opening-round 69, with Danny Willett propping up the leaderboard after posting a triple-bogey and quadruple-bogey over the final two holes of his five-over 77.
Watch the Omega Dubai Desert Classic throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Friday from 7.30am on Sky Sports Golf.