Australia's Wade Ormsby blitzed the back nine on his way to a nine-under-par 61 at the KLM Open in the Netherlands on Thursday to join former Open champion Paul Lawrie for a share of the first-round lead.
The South Australian birdied six of the last seven holes to surge up the leaderboard and admitted it was the best he has ever played.
"That's the lowest score I've had in any round, let alone tournament golf," Ormsby said.
"I've worked pretty hard the last few weeks. I've had five weeks off back in Australia, and it's nice to get back and on the front foot."
Hours earlier, and playing the back nine first, 1999 Open champion Lawrie made the most of benign conditions as he eagled the par-five 12th and birdied 16 17 and 18.
"The 59 did cross my mind. I had a long putt on the seventh - my 16th - for eagle after a lovely three wood in there, and had that popped in there I would have only had to birdie one of the last two to make it," Lawrie said. "But I'm very happy with 61."
In the group behind Ormsby, Richard Bland of England also gave himself a chance of shooting the European Tour's first 59. Bland was eight-under with the last three holes to play, but parred them to finish the round alone in second place.
"I hit a lot of good shots out there," Bland said. "It's always nice to make a good start. It wasn't easy - we probably had a two-club wind most of the day."
Eight-time Major winner Watson, who shot a hole in one in practice on Wednesday, didn't manage another ace, but shot three birdies and two bogies on his way to a one-under 69.
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