Dunhill Links Championship: Denmark's Soren Hansen and England's Ross Fisher produced blistering finishes to claim an early one-shot lead in the Dunhill Links Championship where two-time winner Pádraig Harrington is only three shots off the pace.
The leaders carded eight-under 64s to fend off Germany's Martin Kaymer who is currently in third.
Harrington, in his first event back after a disappointing Ryder Cup, shot an opening 67 at Kingsbarns, one better than Graeme McDowell at the same venue. Rory McIlroy, playing alongside Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton, also finished on four-under after a birdie at the 18th at St Andrews.
Hansen celebrated his return to individual play after the Ryder Cup by picking up four shots in his last three holes at Kingsbarns, closing birdie, birdie, eagle.
"It was an incredible feeling, I looked up at the leaderboard when I'd finished and thought what happened there?" said Hansen.
"The day was really enjoyable because you are trying to get back to normal (after the Ryder Cup) and find some energy."
The Dane played with world heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko in the pro-am style event over three courses (St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns) and added: "I'm really looking forward to playing with him again because you can learn from all champions."
Fisher's finale was nearly as stunning as Hansen's as he closed with three birdies.
After his failed attempt to make Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup team, finishing 12th on the table, Fisher is now going all out for his third win of the year.
"The Ryder Cup proved a disappointment but it hadn't been my goal at the start of the year," said the Englishman.
"I've actually achieved the main goal I set myself - to win again. In fact I've done it twice, now I'm aiming to stay in the top 10 in Europe and top 50 in the world by the end of the season."
Kaymer, also twice a winner this year, has similar goals. The German 24-year-old 2007 rookie of the year who finished one place short of automatic qualification went to Valhalla with the European team to gain experience and it made his mark, he said.
"I was included in everything, the team room, and I felt like I was a player even if I didn't quite make it,"
"It gave me such a great incentive to fight for my place in 2010 in Wales."
With his scratch handicap brother Philip playing alongside and their father Horst on his brother's bag, the Kaymers mounted a formidable family challenge.
All three front-runners played at Kingsbarns, as did Swede Jarmo Sandelin (66), two shots off the lead. Australian Marcus Fraser is also six-under after his 66 at St Andrews.
Peter Lawrie shot 70 at Carnoustie, one better than Damien McGrane at the same venue. Darren Clarke finished level par, one better than Paul McGinley and two better than than Gary Murphy who were all at Kingsbarns.
