Andy Sullivan of England and Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts have shot to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the Portugal Masters on Thursday.
The 29-year-old, from Nuneaton, matched his 32-year-old opponent's score of 64, seven-under-par, after hitting eight birdies and one bogey.
Sullivan would have held the outright lead had he not two-putted from close range for bogey at 16 for the only blemish on an equally impressive scorecard.
Just behind the lead pair are Belgium's Thomas Pieters, David Drysdale of Scotland, Eduardo de la Riva of Spain and Thomas Aiken of South Africa, all on six-under-par 65.
Germany's former US Open and PGA champion Martin Kaymer settled for a one-under 70, as did Irish two-time British Open winner Padraig Harrington, who registered an eagle at the 17th hole and a triple bogey at the seventh.
Defending champion Alexander Levy, meanwhile, has work to do if he is to retain the title he won last year after a one-over 73 that left him eight shots back.
Earlier in the day, fog held up play at the par-71 Oceanico Victoria Golf Club on the Algarve coast.
Giuseppe Labellarte
