India’s SSP Chawrasia shot an even par 72 in the opening round but was placed way down at the end of the first-round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
With three birdies against three bogeys, he was five shots behind the leader Paul Dunne (67).
Dunne picked up from where he left after his last week’s win, to share the first-round lead with Nicolas Colsaerts.
The Irishman claimed his maiden European Tour title in England last week at the British Masters and brought that form to Scotland as he carded an opening five under par 67 on the Old Course at St Andrews.
Colsaerts, the big-hitting Belgian finished birdie-birdie to card a 67 of his own and share top spot heading into round two.
Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, fellow Englishman Oliver Fisher, New Zealander Ryan Fox and Ireland’s Shane Lowry carded rounds of 68 at the home of golf to sit a shot off the lead alongside Frenchman Joel Stalter, who was also four under par at Kingsbarns.