South African Keith Horne set the early Wales Open pace with a first-round 64 at Celtic Manor in Newport on Thursday.
But Europe Ryder Cup heroes Graeme McDowell and Peter Hanson enjoyed their return to the Twenty Ten course and are snapping at Horne's heels.
Paired together for the start, Hanson hit a 65 while defending champion McDowell is two shots further back.
English pair Paul Broadhurst and Steve Webster, plus Spain's Alvaro Velasco are tied in third with 66.
McDowell improved five shots on his start last year with a 67 that included a 30-foot eagle putt on the 15th - but "only" a par on the hole with which he is most associated.
"It's a tough second shot past my statue there," he joked about the 499-yard 16th, scene of the most important birdie he has ever made at last October's Ryder Cup.
"I hit it to about 20 feet and thought I made it, but I guess I've used all my magic up on that green."
Europe captain Colin Montgomerie's return to Celtic Manor was a less enjoyable experience, despite coming into the tournament on the back of a seventh place in the PGA Championship last Sunday.
The 47-year-old Scot began the Wales Open with a seven-over-par 78 and with the top 65 and ties going through to the final two rounds, Montgomerie will struggle to move up the 155-strong field to make the cut.
"I started bogey, bogey, bogey and could have gone home, now I'll waste my time tomorrow and then go home," said Montgomerie.
"I'm very tired, mentally more than physically," he added, after a closing double bogey seven, which came when his attempt to reach the green in two rolled back down the bank into the lake and he then pitched over the green.
Stuart Manley leads the home challenge after the Mountain Ash professional shot a four-under 67, level with a handful of players that include McDowell.
"I am over the moon. I had not played well recently and confidence has been a little bit low, but I made a few putts today and played quite nicely," Manley said.
"It has been about persistent hard work and a couple of new routines this week - a bit more discipline and a bit more professionalism - and it worked well for me."
Jamie Donaldson, from Pontypridd, is one shot behind Manley after relishing the company of McDowell and Hanson in a high-class three-ball.
"Between the three of us we hit some really good shots," Donaldson said.
"The greens were beautiful in the morning and when you play the course in flat, calm conditions, it is just how you want it."
Elliot Saltman played the shot of the day as the Scottish golfer, just back from a three-month European Tour ban, holed-in-one at the 211-yard 17th and followed it with another eagle at the 575-yard last.
However, he might have been left wishing his shot had come earlier at the 189-yard 13th, as the same feat there would have claimed one of the sponsors' cars as the prize - whereas Saltman had to settle for a magnum of champagne.
The 29-year-old, whose suspension was imposed after both his playing partners questioned how he replaced his ball during a Challenge Tour event last season, finished with a two-over-par 73 - the same score as his brother, Lloyd.
