Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar led in The Players Championship at Sawgrass after Sergio Garcia had impressed in Florida.
Fowler - who last week claimed his first win on the US PGA Tour at the Wells Fargo Championship - picked up where he left off last night to birdie five of the opening 10 holes.
That created a five way tie atop the leaderboard after Jonathan Byrd picked up shots on the opening two.
The duo were sitting alongside Zach Johnson, Kuchar and Kevin Na - though a dropped shot on four saw Byrd slip to seven under.
Fowler then moved to nine under with a four on the par five 11th, and Kuchar joined him courtesy of a birdie on the second.
Martin Kaymer, a Major Champion in 2010, was a notable name among the chasing pack; the German’s four birdies in his opening 12 holes cancelled out a bogey to see him to five under.
That ensured he was a shot better off than Garcia, who ended his round in sizzling fashion to move into contention.
He began the day level and looked set to endure frustration when making a seven on the par five second.
But that and two bogeys did not taint an outstanding effort; the Spaniard delivered eight birdies, including five on the back nine.
Tim Clark and Phil Mickelson were among a 12 strong group alongside Garcia, a winner in this event in 2008.
Luke Donald looked the more likely of the two Englishman battling for a chance to move to the summit of the World Golf Rankings.
Donald and Lee Westwood both started on three under but, while the former stayed on the same score, the latter had slipped to one under through ten.
Westwood needs to emerge victorious and hope Donald does not finish runner-up, while his playing partner requires a top four finish.
