Rory McIlroy chipped in at the last on an unbeaten day for the eight members of last year's European Ryder Cup team at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain.
The 22-year-old beat South Africa's double US Open champion Retief Goosen and said: "I don't do it the easy way, that's for sure.
"But if I go to 18 and win every time I wouldn't mind and I'm excited about the next couple of days."
His second group game is against Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts tomorrow afternoon before the event goes into its knock-out stages at the weekend.
His Ryder Cup team-mates who also won were Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer and Miguel Angel Jimenez, while Ian Poulter and Francesco Molinari halved with each other.