Irishman Graeme McDowell fired a six-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead in the British Open first round with champion Tiger Woods lurking in a five-way tie for second place.
McDowell reeled off three consecutive birdies from the ninth, where he holed out from a bunker, before finishing ahead of Woods, Britons Greg Owen and Anthony Wall, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and Keiichiro Fukabori of Japan.
Twice winner Woods, who romped to a five-stroke victory at St Andrews last year, holed a 20-foot birdie putt at the last to complete a stirring recovery after he bogeyed the opening hole.
Woods, playing only his third tournament since the death of his father on May 3, found the left rough off the tee with a two-iron at the first but birdied the fifth, ninth, 11th and 16th before signing off in style at the last.
Ernie Els, the 2002 winner at Muirfield, was among a group of 12 bunched on 68 while Masters champion Phil Mickelson was a further stroke back, along with 12 others.
'That was pretty cool,' a smiling McDowell told reporters after making the most of benign conditions at the north-west England seaside links.
'I was disappointed not to birdie the last but the 18th tee box has been giving me trouble this week.
'I drove the ball really well in general and didn't make any mistakes,' added the 26-year-old, who booked his place at Hoylake in last month's European leg of international qualifying at Sunningdale.
Els, determined to shake off a loss of form following a knee injury last season, also wasted a chance to birdie the par-five last after being bunkered off the tee.
However, the three-times major winner rattled up six birdies and two bogeys to make his best Open start since shooting a 66 at St. Andrews in 2000.
'I didn't play the last hole very well but it's always nice to make a par-saving putt,' the popular South African said. 'It's the first round of a major championship and you definitely don't want to shoot yourself out of it the first day.'
American left-hander Mickelson, eager to banish memories of his final-hole meltdown in last month's US Open at Winged Foot, mixed four birdies with an eagle and three bogeys.
'I got off to a good start and was four under after 10 holes and playing well,' said the world number two, who had been bidding for a third consecutive major title at Winged Foot before his late collapse.
