Padraig Harrington carded an opening round four-under-par 68 to get his Dubai Duty Free Irish Open bid off to an impressive start.
The 2007 winner played the back nine first and parred the first five holes before a bogey on the sixth.
However, an eagle on the 17th (his eighth) kick-started his round and birdies followed on the 13th, 15th and 16th.
"It gave me great momentum," Harrington told RTÉ Sport of his eagle.
"I started off well and missed a few chance. Things were going away from me, it was big bonus.
"[Ballyliffin] is a great venue, a traditional links, course, it does help to have the sunshine. It’s a joy to play."
New Zealand's Ryan Fox is the clubhouse leader on five under par after his 67.
Graeme McDowell was also among the early starters and the Antrim man signed for one-under-par 71.
He was playing alongside defending champion Jon Rahm, who could only manage a round of 74.
Short Game Master 👏🏼@padraig_h #DDFIrishOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/qeKqlsgIIN
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) July 5, 2018
Paul Dunne, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry teed off at lunchtime.
Simon Thornton and Ruaidhri McGee went around in level par, while Cian McNamara was four over.
"There was birdies to be had when the sunshine came out" - Padraig Harrington happy with his round and the venue on his first ever visit to Donegal pic.twitter.com/daaSLbvRd9
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 5, 2018
