Singh, currently second on the Professional Golf Tour of India Order of Merit, made his move with an eagle three at the 516-yard par-five 14th after starting at the back nine at the Delhi Golf Club.

The 14th had initially been designated as a par four but organisers reverted back to the original par five as it was deemed too long to accept a long iron or fairway wood.

Back-to-back birdies to end the back nine followed as the 36-year-old, whose best finish on the 2007 Asian Tour was a tie for 11th at the Philippine Open, reached the turn with a two-stroke lead over a group containing Ryder Cup winner Thomas Bjorn and BMW Asian Open champion Raphael Jacquelin.

Frenchman Jacquelin, also starting on the back nine, quickly picked up three birdies in seven holes but after carding a double-bogey five at the 17th, recovered with a birdie at the 18th to reach the turn in 34.

South African Els, third in Dubai last week behind Tiger Woods, recorded two bogeys in his opening three holes, which included hitting his tee shot at the 10th into the trees, but reeled off three consecutive birdies to sit at one-under-par in a group containing Darren Clarke and India’s Shiv Kapur.

Pablo Larrazabel also joined the group three shots off the early pace, a remarkable achievement considering the Spaniard is using a set of borrowed clubs.

Larrazabel was a late replacement for Sweden’s Michael Jonzon on Wednesday and after his own clubs failed to arrive in time, Swede Jarmo Sandelin and compatriots Jose Manuel Lara and Gonzalo Fdez-Castano came to his aid.