Winner three years ago, the 28-year-old Londoner comes into the event this time on the back of two runners-up finishes in Madeira and Portugal.

His only real moment of alarm was on the 11th when he was startled by a shot from Ryder Cup Welshman Phillip Price playing in the group behind.

Davis was about to attempt to putt for birdie at the par five when Price’s ball landed just short of the green and hopped into a bunker.

Price, playing from a valley and unable to see the green, immediately apologised – and Davis made the putt.

Sherborne, from Bristol, took the title in 1992, but has fallen off the European tour since and finished a lowly 152nd out of 168 at the qualifying school last November.

However, exempt for the tournament as a past champion, he birdied the first, third, sixth and eighth in the perfect conditions.

With six reachable par fives, wide open fairways and little rough there was talk of the European tour record round of 60 being under threat on the Costa Adeje course.

Welshman David Park and France’s Christian Cevaer also reached the turn in four under and only one behind were Price, Kent’s Roger Chapman, Southampton’s Richard Bland and Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Eduardo de la Riva.

But favourite Sergio Garcia, trying to become the first player since Max Faulkner in 1953 to make a successful defence of the title, was only one under after nine – and needed an eagle at the 18th for that.

Garcia’s frustration was showing as he followed seven opening pars with a bogey at the 17th, but then came a six iron to 10 feet.

He has not had a top 20 finish all season as he makes swing changes, but hinted at a return to form by opening the Masters with a 69 two weeks ago and lying second before falling back to 28th.