Spain's Ignacio Garrido set a blistering pace on a high scoring first morning at the Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

The 1997 Ryder Cup winner played the opening six holes of his first round in five under par courtesy of three birdies and an eagle to top the early leaderboard, a shot clear of Dubai-based Scot Ross Bain.

Bain reached the turn in four under par 32 despite shipping an early bogey after completing his front nine with a run of four consecutive birdies.

In-form Asian Number One Thongchai Jaidee and KJ Choi also enjoyed solid starts to join South Africa's George Coetzee, India's Rahil Gangjee, who was 14th at the Avantha Masters last time out on home soil, and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat at three-under-par.

Two-time Malaysian Open winner Thongchai followed up his battling third place finish in Dubai with a run to the quarter-finals of the WGC - Accenture Match Play Championship, while playing partner Choi has also enjoyed a solid start to the new season after finishing inside the top 30 in his last four events on the US PGA Tour.