Victor Perez was taking it all in as he enjoyed his first taste of a World Golf Championships event but showed he was a force to be reckoned with on day one of the WGC-HSBC Champions.
The Frenchman claimed a maiden European Tour victory at last month's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and is teeing it up at Sheshan International Golf Club by virtue of being in the top 30 on the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex.
It has been a rapid rise in his rookie season for the European Challenge Tour graduate but he is taking it all in his stride, and an opening 65 containing two eagles left him just one off the lead after 18 holes in Shanghai.
"It's my first WGC, very excited just to start with," he said. "I think being around here and going down the fairway with some of the best players in the world, being that first year on Tour is quite amazing.
"It's really enjoyable and obviously you just try to make the most out of it as well.
It's really enjoyable and obviously you just try to make the most out of it as well - Victor Perez
"The end of the year has been quite good since the win at Dunhill. A couple of good weeks in Italy and France. Obviously it can always be better but after a win, you could go either way. You could really ride it or have a little bit of a downfall from it.
"I did well, coming in here with a lot of confidence and the course suits me fairly well.
"It was a great day for me, very pleased with how I played. I think I did a lot of things well today and I'm obviously in a great position after day one."
Matthew Fitzpatrick has five European Tour wins to his name but none this season after finishing runner up four times so far, with another second place on the US PGA Tour.
The Englishman was one shot behind Perez at six under after day one and does not believe that elusive win is far away.
"I can't say it's definitely going to happen, I'd love to say definitely," he said.
"You've just got to keep putting yourself in position. I think it will come. I feel like I've played well enough this year to win.
"Just five individuals that really annoyed me and went one better."
