Eddie Pepperell, Ian Poulter and Tommy Fleetwood all showed incredible grit on home soil to sit in promising positions after day one of the 2020 BMW PGA Championship.
Golf is a hard enough sport as it is - add in going up against a Rolex Series field at a Wentworth Golf Club that is playing long after a lot of recent rain and it is very difficult indeed.
On top of all that Pepperell was struggling with his swing in the early part of his round, hitting wild tee shots and rescuing himself with some stunning short-game play.
The 29-year-old made the most of his scrambling and carded a 67 to sit just one shot off the lead.
"I hit the starter's hut on the East Course off the first tee... made a chip-in for par," he said.
"Snap-hooked my tee shot into three, made a great bogey and I had no idea what I was doing.
"It was awful, going everywhere off the tee and I made two birdies. I snap-hooked two more tee shots.
"How I was under par after six, seven, eight holes, I have no idea. My short game was unbelievable. My iron play was brilliant and I actually missed a couple of birdie opportunities.
"My short game and iron play was just like sensational and then I found my drill, kind of did a slightly different drill which gave me a different feeling which was very, very difficult to trust.
"But I must say I hit two great shots on 15 and 17, which I think were the only two tee shots coming in which could have undone me the way I was from the fairway, I was playing so well.
"It's definitely the best five under I've ever shot on Tour."
Poulter was facing a different challenge as back spasms meant the Ryder Cup talisman was unsure if he would finish his round on the front nine.
He held it together to sit just one over after 15 holes and then finished birdie-birdie-eagle to catapult himself to three under.
"It started some back spasms on Sunday night and six hours in a car driving home wasn't the best," he said. "I've been having some acupuncture and treatment to try and give me a bit of respite there and after a few holes, I was struggling. I called the doctor out early in the round to see if I could get some kind of pain relief."
He added: "After four holes, I was contemplating whether to call it a day. I didn't want to do that. Here is a big tournament and I know that I'm playing good golf. Coming off of a good finish last week, I just know if I can get this back to just ease off and give me a little bit of a break, then obviously I can do some good stuff this week."
Fleetwood made a bogey-bogey start and more dropped shots on the fifth and seventh meant he turned in 39 and the thoughts of some observers were turning to the cut rather than the trophy.
The 2017 Race to Dubai champion then birdied the 12th and 13th and finished his round with three more gains to drag himself back into red figures.
The three men now all sit within five shots of the lead and should they lift the trophy on Sunday, they may well look back on their first 18 holes as the key.
