Harry Hall compared playing at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club to being back at home in Las Vegas as he made a fast start to his debut at the Omega European Masters.
The Englishman has made Las Vegas his primary base since graduating from University of Nevada in 2019, and as such is used to the challenges posed by playing at altitude.
Located 1,500 metres above sea level, the Crans-Montana venue is widely regarded as the most scenic on the DP World Tour with spectacular views across the Rhône valley to the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
While it may be a completely different backdrop to what Hall is accustomed to in the United States, the 29-year-old revealed he was feeling at ease adjusting to conditions in the Swiss Alps after grouping an eagle, five birdies with two bogeys to card an impressive five-under-par 65.
"It was really good," he said. "Didn't hit the ball as good as I would like to, but I putted really nice for the first time in a while.
"It's nice to be at altitude, I live at altitude, and that was pretty familiar, so, yeah, a good day.
"My numbers in Vegas are a little bit shorter than here. But in the morning it gets cold in Vegas too, so you really have to adjust.
"Like, there's a difference between 10 yards with an eight iron, so... Yeah, just knowing that throughout the day, and adjusting for it, and I did that well."
A winner on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, Hall is playing in his second event of a planned four-week stint in Europe after falling just short of making it through to the second of three events in the FedExCup Play-Offs.
Having finished tied 30th last week at the Husqvarna British Masters, the World Number 73 is eager to build momentum on the Race to Dubai ahead of visits to Ireland and England over the upcoming two weeks.
That's all being well, with Hall and wife, Jordan, expecting the birth of their second child soon after the third Rolex Series event of the DP World Tour season at Wentworth Club.
"I'm excited," he added. "I'm going to play four in a row with last week, and head home after Wentworth.
"We've got a baby due quite soon after that, so hopefully, it can wait for me!"
