Tom McKibbin marked his LIV golf debut with a opening round 65 in Riyadh, three shots off first-round leader Adrian Meronk.
Last week Jon Rahm confirmed the Antrim golfer had joined his Legion XIII team, with the 22-year-old signing a contract believed to be worth €4.8m ($5m) for three years.
It was a promising start for McKibbin, who is tied for third alongside Lee Westwood, with Legion enjoying a seven-shot lead in the team event.
Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt, also part of Legion XIII, are part of a tie for fifth at six- under. Rahm himself had the highest round of his steam, a five-under 67.
Poland's Meronk leads the way after 10 birdies, including each of his final two holes at LIV Golf Riyadh.
The member of Cleeks GC cruised around for a bogey-free,10-under-par 62, giving him a two-stroke edge over Colombia's Sebastian Munoz.
