Paul Casey birdied four of the last five holes to lie one shot off the lead after the first round of the CIMB Classic.
The Englishman, who is chasing a first PGA Tour win since 2009 and has finished in the top four in his last four tournaments, shot an opening 65 in Kuala Lumpur.
He trails defending champion Justin Thomas and fellow Americans Derek Fathauer and Keegan Bradley, who all went round in eight under par on Thursday.
Casey dropped a shot on the par-five third but was two under at the turn following gains at the fifth, seventh and ninth.
Further shots were picked up on the 11th and 14th before three successive birdies rounded off a solid start.
Thomas had nine birdies in his round, with a bogey on the sixth his only blemish.
Fathauer was flawless in his 64 while Bradley birdied six of the first eight holes before eagling the 10th.
Dropped shots on the 11th and 13th checked his momentum but he recovered with birdies at the 16th and 17th.
Sergio Garcia rolled in a 22-foot eagle putt on the third as he lies in a share of sixth, three shots off the lead.
Australian Adam Scott, who finished a stroke behind winner Thomas last year, started with a two-under 70 while England's Ian Poulter, on his return from a foot injury, is a shot further back.
Source: PA
