Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell sit four off the lead after a solid opening round to the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday, as Scott Hend, Joost Luiten and YE Yang set the Wentworth pace with scorching 63s.
Lowry birdied two of his final four holes to lay a solid platform across the water, as ideal conditions allowed Hend an Yang to streak clear.
McDowell, finishing later in the day, hit consecutive birdies on the fifth and sixth holes and another on the 11th. He then followed up another birdie at the 14th with bogey on the 15th for a three under 69.
"Last week in Ireland was fantastic, but I had a little bit more support out there being a home boy in England" - Danny Willett
Michael Hoey is just one behind after the Northern Irishman shot a 70. The Ballymoney man carded three birdies and a bogey in Surrey.
Masters champion Danny Willett carded six birdies and no bogeys in an opening 66 to finish a shot behind the leaders.
Australia's Richard Green, England's Robert Rock and South Africa's Jaco van Zyl were two shots off the pace, with Luke Donald delighted with an opening 68.
Former world number one Donald, who first reached top spot in the rankings by beating Lee Westwood in a play-off in 2011 and successfully defended the title 12 months later, took advantage of ideal conditions to card six birdies and two bogeys on the West Course.
Afterwards Willett referenced the support Rory McIlroy received when winning the Irish Open at the weekend, hoping for the same sort of support himself this weekend.
"The reception on the first tee was amazing," said Willett, whose best finish at Wentworth saw him fifth on his debut in 2010, when he led after an opening 65.
"Last week in Ireland was fantastic, but I had a little bit more support out there being a home boy in England. We got a great reception all the way around.
"It's always nice to come back and play in front of the home crowds. It helped Rory last week coming down the stretch and hopefully it can do the same for one of the English lads this week. You always get great crowds at Wentworth and if the good weather will hopefully stay around, we should be in for a great week.
"I've worked really hard the last three weeks. I was a bit lax going into the Players Championship and last week we were grinding for three days and had glimpses of good golf in there.
"I've been on the range again this week. Just because you win a big tournament doesn't mean you can rest on your laurels, I'd rather work to win the next one."
Hend, who won his second European Tour title in Thailand in March, carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey on the 15th as a more conservative approach paid off for the big-hitting 43-year-old.
"I tried aggressive last year and it really doesn't work," said the world number 85, who missed the cut on his debut last year.
"So I thought I'd just be a little bit cautious (off the tee) and a bit more aggressive into the greens. We'll see how that plays out during the week.
"There's a long three more days to go but I'm comfortable wherever I'm playing, whether I'm running last or whether I'm running first. Just put one foot in front of the other and keep going."
Yang, who made history in the 2009 US PGA as the first player to come from behind to beat Tiger Woods in the final round of a major, also carded eight birdies and one bogey, the Korean's only blemish coming on the first hole.
Of the other Irish involved; David Higgins is on three over, Colm Moriarty and Paul McGinley four over, Darren Clarke is seven over and Eamonn Brady 12 over.
