Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka shot Germany into a one-stroke lead after the first-round fourballs of the World Cup at Mission Hills in China.
World number 26 Kaymer's round at the £3.5m event included a huge eagle putt at the 7th as he and Cejka combined for a 10-under-par 62 on Thursday.
A strong finish from the Australian pairing of Richard Green and Brendan Jones left them second on nine under.
Colin Montgomerie's defending champions Scotland were tied for 16th after a 68.
Kaymer, 23, who has won twice in his breakthrough season on the European Tour this year, had already birdied the first three holes when he sent an 80-foot putt over a ridge and into the hole for an eagle three at the 7th.
"That was one of my longest putts I've ever made I think," he said. "I played solid today and it's just fun."
606: DEBATEUnited States partnership Ben Curtis and Brandt Snedeker, fired up by the latter's eagle at the 4th, carded a 64 for a share of third place alongside Canada's Graham DeLaet and Wes Hefferman and the Spanish pairing of Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal.
Favourites Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson of Sweden, the world numbers six and 12 respectively, finished the day tied for sixth on seven under alongside three others including Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley, who would have shared second but for a double bogey at the last.
The English partnership of Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher and the Welsh pairing of Bradley Dredge and Richard Johnson are both tied in 20th place on three-under-par.
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