Anirban Lahiri got off to a modest two-under 70 start at the CIMB Classic, his first start on the 2016 PGA Tour in the event, which is also co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour.
Lahiri, winner of the Malaysian Open and Hero Indian Open this year, was lying tied 33rd.
Lahiri's compatriot SSP Chawrasia shot even par 72 and was lying tied-63 in the 78-man field.
The leader was Scott Piercy, who shot 10-under 62, a score Lahiri got enroute to his win at the same course in February this year.
Lahiri had three birdies and one bogey after starting from the 10th alongside Sergio Garcia and his teammate from the President's Cup International Team, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.
Garcia carded 70 and was lying 33rd, while Matsuyama shot 65 and was lying second.
Lahiri had a mixed feeling about the round as he said, "I've gotten through day one, (but) I haven't put myself out of it, but I'm going to need to start making some birdies tomorrow."
Chawrasia, who had four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey, also had a ringside view of Scott Brown's ace on the 15th, which fetched the American a brand new BMW i8.
Brown (68) aced the 189-yard 15th hole with a 6-iron to win the card, which is being retailed at USD 277,095.23. The car was a prize for the first player to ace the hole this week.
Piercy, making his second appearance at the CIMB Classic and first at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, made use of preferred lies and carded an opening round of bogey free 10-under-par 62 to take a three-shot lead.
It is the lowest first round score in the history of the CIMB Classic.
Three behind Piercy was Matsuyama whose 65 included eight birdies against one bogey.
Five players are tied for third after shooting opening-round 6-under 66s. They are Jason Gore, Alex Cejka, Cameron Smith, Charles Howell III and Keegan Bradley.
Two-time defending champion, American Ryan Moore got off to another great start at the CIMB Classic, firing a 5-under-par 67.
If he wins this week, Moore would become the first player since Steve Stricker to win the same PGA TOUR event three years in a row (John Deere Classic, '09-11).
