Rafael Cabrera-Bello holds a two-stroke over the field after the opening round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.
The Spaniard was the early pace-setter as he picked up seven shots in his opening nine holes and his nine-under-par 63 proved too good for his rivals to match as the opening day drew to a close.
German Marcel Siem and Scotland's Scott Jamieson are two shots behind the leaders, with Rory McIlroy in a share of fourth after managing seven birdies in his last ten holes to sit three shots off the pace.
Starting on the tenth, Cabrera-Bello birdied the first two holes before making back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th. He had to settle for a par at the 15th before he picked up three more shots before the turn.
More birdies followed at the first and second and for a time Ernie Els' course record 61 looked to be in danger, but the Spaniard could not manage it as he signed for an opening 63.
"Just for a second after the birdie on number two (his 11th hole) I tried to do the maths on what I needed for 59," Cabrera-Bello said.
"Then I told myself to stop being foolish and don't be too greedy. Nothing wrong happened - there were some tough holes to come and I didn't drop a stroke.
"It's a really, really good score, but in itself it means nothing. If you want to stay grounded you think of how many leaders of the first round win the tournament. Not that many.
"I know I have to play really, really good just to have a chance."
McIlroy found himself one over par after eight holes but the world number two suddenly turned things around and he managed to climb back up the leaderboard. He came close to recording a hole-in-one at the 15th but by then he was up to five-under and he rounded off his day with another birdie at the 18th.
"I was pretty slow starting off and after my best shot of the day on the seventh three-putted from four feet," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"I just needed to get something to happen, made a nice birdie on nine and went on a run from there. Seeing nine under on the leaderboard early is tough - you think you should be doing better."
He finds himself in a share of fourth with Martin Kaymer, Nicolas Colsaerts, Thomas Bjorn, Richard Sterne and Romain Wattel.