Spain’s Carlos Del Moral recorded the lowest-ever number of putts on the European Tour in managing just 20 putts and storming his way to a three stroke lead with a 17-under par total around the Santo da Serra course.

India’s Shiv Kapur recorded the longest-ever drive in the 40-year history of the Tour launching a 442-yard tee shot off the 13 th tee to the fairway well below.

Kapur’s drive is believed also to be the third longest on any of the main Tour’s.

Del Moral, 26, one putted all nine outward holes, including one from off the green at the second hole, and then one-putted the last three for birdies in a score of a nine under par 63.

A Tour official indicated it is likely to be the lowest number of putts in 18 holes and comes just a week after the European Tour celebrated its 40 th anniversary.

“I putted beautifully, which gives me a lot of confidence,” said Del Moral.

“I had nine single putts over the front nine but only eight could on the stats card as I putted from off the green at the second.

“So to have just 20 putts was unbelievable, incredible.

“And the ones that I missed hardly missed at all, they were so close to going in.”

The Valencia-born Del Moral is now seeking to win for a first time on the European Tour.

Kapur’s drive left the New Delhi born golfer with just 11-yards to the green as he used a Callaway RAZR 'Hawk' driver to bring the downhill par five, 13th hole to its knees.

And unlike many prior 'wind assisted' 400-yard plus drives, Kapur recorded the feat in benign and very hot conditions.

"There's simply no wind today and in this hot weather, and also as we are so high up on the island, the ball is just going so far," he said.

"Of course, I've hit plenty of drives well over 300-yards but this is the first time I've ever launced a drive 442-yards.

"The ball just came off the clubface so good and seemed to go forever and just stopping about a dozen yards short of the flagstick."

A Tour official later also confirmed Kapur's drive to be a new long and beating the former mark set by Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin.

Only a day earlier Argentina's Rafa Echenique had smashed a drive of 423-yards at the similar downhill par five 11th.

The longest-ever drive in pro tournament golf was recorded by now deceased American Mike Austin, who hit a drive on September 25th, 1974 of 515 yards while competing in the U.S. National Senior Open Championship at Desert Rose, Las Vegas.

Bizarrely, Austin was aged 64 at the time.

Tiger Woods once hit a drive of 425-yards but that is still 31-yards short of the all-time PGA Tour low of 476-yards accomplished by 2012 USA Ryder Cup captain, Davis Love 111.

Love 111 recorded the effort in Hawaii during the 2004 season-opening Mercedes Championship and on a similar mountainous layout as Madeira and is recorded as the world's second longest drive in pro tour golf.