Francesco Molinari continued to head the European challenge and Rory McIlroy was part of a large contingent of European Tour Members within two shots of the lead as American Patrick Reed climbed a stroke clear of the field at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
After the first day was interrupted by bad weather, Reed returned to the Blue Monster to complete a four under par 68.
Reed will begin Friday afternoon's second round a stroke ahead of a group of six players on three under, including Molinari and US Ryder Cup stars Jason Dufner, Zach Johnson and Hunter Mahan.
Two-time US PGA Tour winner Reed, who won at the Humana Challenge in January, took over at the top of the leaderboard with the seventh birdie of his round, at his penultimate hole, the par five eighth.
Molinari had been three under through 13 holes overnight, and overcame a first bogey at the 14th with a birdie at the last, where the wind had switched to make Trump National Doral’s signature hole a more manageable affair.
“I'm very happy with the start,” said the Italian Ryder Cup star. “I hit the ball very good yesterday and this morning, as well - it was really, really tough this morning coming in.
“I'm happy where I am. I felt like I was playing good in the Match Play, obviously lost to Thomas Björn in the first round, but we had a good match and I was still happy the way I played. I'm looking forward to the next few tournaments as I'm hitting the ball well.”
McIlroy picked up a stroke over his final four holes, to be two strokes off the pace, alongside Luke Donald, Charl Schwartzel and Miguel Angel Jiménez.
After his round McIlroy admitted he was keen to get back out for round two and contend for the title after two runner-up finishes in his three stroke-play events this season.
“I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't anxious to get it [a win], but at the same time, I realize I have to stay patient to get it,” said the Northern Irishman.
“It’s just a matter of managing your emotions and your expectations, and just trying to put all your energy into the round of golf that you play and know that four rounds of good golf are going to add up to maybe a win.”
At four under he led by one from Reed, who had double bogeyed the third, Kuchar, Dufner, Mahan, Dustin Johnson, Harris English and Schwartzel, who birdied the long first.
Kuchar pitched to within six inches at the first to briefly join Molinari, but both soon found themselves in a six-way tie on three under.
Molinari drove into the water at the last and did well to salvage a bogey, while Kuchar dropped a shot at the second to throw Reed, Dufner, Johnson and Mahan into a share of the lead.
