US Open champion Brooks Koepka felt destiny was on his side after firing an eventful 64 to claim the lead in the World Golf Championships in Shanghai.
Koepka carded seven birdies, an eagle and a solitary bogey at Sheshan International to finish eight under par, a shot ahead of Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Malaysia's Gavin Green.
American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed and South Africa's Haydn Porteous were two shots off the pace on six under, with Olympic champion Justin Rose and Ireland's Paul Dunne part of a five-strong group on five under.
Little known Matthew Griffin led the Australian charge at four under, with Jason Day a shot further back after a three-under 69.
In form Marc Leishman was one-under along with compatriots Scott Hend and Ryan Fox. Adam Scott was even with the card.
Koepka began his round on the back nine and birdied the 14th, 16th and 17th before holing from 20 feet for eagle on the par-five 18th to reach the turn in 31.
The 27-year-old also birdied the first before three-putting the third, but bounced back to pick up shots on the fourth, seventh and eighth, the latter coming in unlikely fashion.
"It was an interesting hole to say the least," Koepka told reporters after his round. "It was an awful three-iron (off the tee), hit it in the water and was lucky enough or fortunate enough to at least be able to hit it and advance it.
"And then to hit three-wood in there to 15 feet and then make the putt, we were laughing. It was almost kind of like destiny to make that putt for how lucky we were that whole hole."
Koepka, whose shirt bore the evidence of his escape from the muddy water, added: "I thought we played really well. Putted very well. One little hiccup and three-putted from about four feet."
Green, who won the Taiwan Masters on the Asian Tour at the start of the month, carded seven birdies in a bogey-free round, while Aphibarnrat recorded 10 birdies and three bogeys.
"It's my first time here and it's obviously my first WGC," Green said. "The last couple of weeks, playing on the PGA TOUR, it's a big difference for me. It takes a little getting used to."
England's Tyrrell Hatton, who is seeking a hat-trick of victories after winning the Dunhill Links and Italian Open, is four shots off the pace after a 68 matched by compatriots Matt Fitzpatrick and Matthew Southgate and world No.1 Dustin Johnson.
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