Ireland's Padraig Harrington lit up the Transitions Championship in Florida with a dazzling course-record ten under par 61, the lowest round of his career.
Having slipped down to 90th in the Official World Golf Ranking, Harrington put any lack of form behind him with a blistering round.
The three-time Major winner started with back-to-back birdies at Innisbrook, finished with three in a row and had five more in between to take one shot off the course record.
"It's been a strange last year, but I'm very comfortable where my game is at," said Harrington, who is looking for his first victory on the US PGA TOUR since he won The Open Championship and US PGA Championship in 2008.
"For a long time now, I play better on the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday than I do on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I'm trying to stay patient. I know my game is good. One of the hardest things is to wait with confidence."
Harrington's three closing birdies included a 75 foot birdie on the 17th, the longest putt of his US PGA Tour career by almost ten feet.
"I would like to tell you it was funnelling right up the green and couldn't go anywhere else," Harrington said about the putt. "But certainly the last 15 feet it was right in the middle of the hole. That's a bonus obviously."
Harrington, who had a hole-in-one during the eve-of-tournament pro-am, led by three from American Will Claxton, who eagled the 14th and birdied the 18th to sign for a 64, while nobody else managed better than a 66.
A bogey on the 18th saw Kenny Perry drop back into a seven-way tie for third alongside Cameron Tringale, John Senden, Jason Dufner, Jason Bohn, Jim Furyk and William McGirt, all on 66.
World Number Two Luke Donald, along with compatriot Justin Rose, was part of a large group one shot further back on 67.
Sergio Garcia shot 68, Brian Davis 69, Ernie Els, Peter Hanson, Paul Casey and Greg Owen 70 and Martin Laird 73.
