Cabrera-Bello is following in the footsteps of the big names like Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood in hosting a European Tour event, the inaugural Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.

And the 36-year-old, who was born on the island, ended the first round at Meloneras Golf just two shots off the lead after carding six birdies and a solitary bogey in an opening 65.

"I am very happy," said the former Ryder Cup player, who was unbeaten in three matches on his debut at Hazeltine in 2016 and won the Scottish Open the following year.

"I have been saying it all week that it is a pleasure to have the European Tour back in the Canaries.

"And for someone that was born here, raised here, and I come as often as I can, I always tell everyone how nice it is here.

"So I am glad we get the opportunity to showcase it to the rest of the world.

"I am missing a big crowd but I am feeling the support. Some of the holes close to the road had people cheering which was cool, so I want to give them a big thank you for coming out even though they are not here as normal – but they were able to see a little bit of golf."

Holland's Joost Luiten, Denmark's JB Hansen, Germany's Max Kieffer – who lost a five-hole play-off in the Austrian Open on Sunday – and France's Robin Roussel shared the lead on seven-under par, with Luiten making a hole-in-one on the 15th, his sixth hole of the day.

Queensland’s Jake McLeod, who finished with four straight birdies, and compatriot Maverick Antcliff also both made fine starts to the tournament, shooting rounds of 66 to sit just three off the lead at four-under. On a low-scoring day, though, they were only joint-25th overall.