Darren Clarke fired a blistering round of 65 to sit three shots behind leader Bo Van Pelt at the Cologuard Classic.
Low scoring was the order of the day at La Paloma Country Club and Clarke got the memo as he rolled in eight birdies on the opening day with his only blemish being a double bogey at the par-4 13th.
The 2011 Open champion roared out of the traps with a birdie at the first and then three in a row from the third. Back to back birdies closed out his front nine in a sensational 30 strokes and he looked to be on course for something similar on the back nine when he birdied the par-5 11th.
He may rue the double bogey on 13 later in the week but he finished his round with a flourish after a birdie at the par-3 17th.
Pádraig Harrington is a shot behind Clarke and four shy of Van Pelt after a 66 left him in seventh place on five-under.
Harrington also started in blistering fashion with three successive birdies to open his round before he turned in 31 after back to back birdies to end his front nine.
The three-time major winner dropped a shot at the par-5 11th but regained his composure with a birdie at the par-5 16th.
Leader Van Pelt holds a two shot advantage over Thongchai Jaidee and Retief Goosen on nine-under-par after a stunning 62 which included eight birdies, an eagle and just one bogey.
“Yeah, obviously it was a good day. I like the golf course. I actually played here when I was 17, kind of have a special place. This is where I committed to Oklahoma State was at this tournament, at the Rolex. So it was 37 years ago. I was excited to come back.
“I’m just trying to play the best I can play. I kind of, I try to hold myself to a certain standard when I’m out there playing. Got off to kind of a slow start, didn’t birdie No. 2, a pretty short par-5, but it was like I try not to pay attention to where I’m at on the golf course, whether you’re under par, over par. It’s like I’ve got a game plan that I’m trying to play with, and whatever time I play tomorrow, I’m going to try to do the same thing.”
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