Ireland's Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington are two shots off the lead after the opening round of the British Masters.
Lowry and Harrington both carded 66's to sign off on five under par to leave them well placed after the first day of action, but it was young gun Matthew Fitzpatrick who fired six birdies and an eagle to sprint to the top of the leaderboard with a seven-under-par 64.
The 21-year-old showed the sort of sizzling form that once took him to the top of the world amateur rankings as he opened a one-stroke lead over fellow Englishman Lee Slattery, Robert Karlsson of Sweden, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Scot Marc Warren.
Fitzpatrick, who was within inches of claiming the first 59 in European Tour history at last month's Dutch Open, took advantage of ideal scoring conditions by racing to the turn in 31 at Woburn's Marquess Course.
He mixed an eagle at the par-five seventh with three birdies and a solitary bogey on the outward nine before making further inroads on par at the 13th, 17th and 18th.
Former European number one Karlsson would have joined him on 64 but for a bogey five at the last hole.
Niall Kearney sits on two under, with Greystones' Paul Dunne level par after his 71.
Tournament host Ian Poulter was also well placed after shooting a 68.
