World Number Five Rickie Fowler carded a three under par 67 to take the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The winner of last month's Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open began his round on the back nine and got off to a strong start at Firestone Country Club, opening with a birdie at the tenth before making a further gain on the 15th to reach the turn in 33.
The 26 year old picked up another shot on the second before chipping in from the edge of the third green to go four under.
But a bogey at the next hole, followed by five consecutive pars saw the American finish his opening round three under par.
Fowler feels there is room for improvement, but was happy with his short game on Thursday. He said: “It wasn't the best ball striking today, and my swing and ball striking has been very good as of late.
"I need a little bit of work on that, but it was nice for my short game to show up and save me a bit there. I had some key putts out there and good up and downs."
Meanwhile Victor Dubuisson's precise iron play saw him card an opening 68 to finish his round in a share of second place.
The Ryder Cup star recovered from a bogey at the third with back to back birdies at the fifth and sixth holes, before picking up a further shot at the par four ninth.
The Frenchman safely parred the final nine holes to join Englishman Paul Casey and America's Robert Streb on two under.
"I played really solid golf," Dubuisson said. "On the third, I made a mistake on the distance, and I got the bogey on that hole.
"When you are one over after three holes - with the second being a par five - you do not have many birdie opportunities here.
"My iron game was really good, and I made some good putts to save par."
Denmark's Søren Kjeldsen and Italy's Francesco Molinari are among the large group on one under after shooting rounds of 69.
