Emiliano Grillo claimed a one-shot lead after the opening round of the RBC Canadian Open in Ontario.
The Argentinian carded eight birdies in his round of 64 after sealing his place in the field at Glen Abbey with a top 10 finish at last week's Barbasol Championship.
Grillo, who spends most of his time playing on the European Tour, leads by a single stroke from American pair Vaughn Taylor and Brian Harman.
Erik Compton, Steve Wheatcroft, South African Tyrone Van Aswegen and 17-year-old Australian Ryan Ruffels are one shot further back and tied for fourth following six-under 66s.
The star players in the field, Bubba Watson and Jason Day, fired matching rounds of 68 to sit four behind Grillo, but defending champion Tim Clark started poorly with a level par 72.
Grillo had four birdies on either nine and revealed after his round it had been a rush for him to get clearance to even play this week.
"It was a crazy week. The last eight, nine days has been crazy," Grillo said. "They told me that I wasn't able to get a visa in time, so I had to go to the Canadian border and ask for permission to play this tournament.
"I basically asked them and told them I don't have a visa. 'I'm here to ask you for a permit'.
"There is a kind of exception for athletes, but Canada has to gain something, and I have to gain something, so it kind of worked.
"Just pay the permit and go ahead. I'm here now and a good, solid round today."
Among the also-rans, Robert Allenby's season took a further nosedive as he slumped to a nine over 81 and sacked his caddie Mick Middlemo midway through his round - he later withdrew from the tournament.
The Australian said of the incident: "He just lost the plot at me. He got right in my face as if he wanted to just beat me up. I said, 'Stop being a such-and-such and calm down and get back into the game'. And he just got even closer and closer and I just said, 'That's it, you're sacked'."