England's Paul Waring left some of Europe's biggest names trailing in his wake to claim the lead after the first round of the HNA Open de France.
Waring, 32, who is competing this season on a medical exemption due to ongoing back problems which restricted him to four starts in 2016, carded seven birdies in a flawless opening 64 at Le Golf National, venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
That left the former English Amateur champion two shots clear of Thomas Pieters, Alexander Bjork and qualifying school winner Nathan Kimsey, with Tommy Fleetwood part of a three-strong group on four under.
Pieters, who won a record four points from five matches on his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine, carded six birdies and a solitary bogey in his 66 after benefiting from a putting lesson from the coach of fellow Belgian Thomas Detry.
"I did some good work on Sunday with Thomas Detry's putting coach and he made a bunch of putts last week so I figured he's good," Pieters told Sky Sports.
"It was about visualising and I definitely saw the ball go in the hole before I hit it and hit plenty of good putts. I've been a feel putter my whole life and to get one little tip on seeing those putts go in really helped for me.
"Any time I hit a green today I felt like I had a good chance to make birdie so I'm very happy."
Kimsey, who won the qualifying school last year after coming through all three stages, recovered from a bogey on his opening hole - the 10th - to card five birdies in the next six on his way to a 66, which matched Bjork's flawless effort.
Graeme McDowell is best placed of the Irish after fired an opening two-under-par 69 to lie five off the lead as he looks to continue his love affair with the French Open.
McDowell carded four birdies to give himself a foothold in a tournament he's won twice, in 2013 and 2014.
Paul Dunne was a shot further back after his round of 70, while Shane Lowry will have to improve on his opening round of 74 if he wants to make the cut.
One person who likes unlikely to be around for the weekend is Darren Clarke. The former Open champion had a nightmare round which included seven bogeys, a double bogey and a 9 on the par-4 18th.
