Sam Saunders carded a seven-under-par 64 to take the lead after the first round at the inaugural Barbasol Championship in Alabama.
Saunders, the grandson of seven-time major winner Arnold Palmer, recorded seven birdies in a bogey-free round to lead by one shot at the Robert Trent Jones Grand National Course.
Hot on his heels are fellow Americans Jason Gore, who carded eight birdies and two bogeys to lie second, and a five-strong group including Martin Flores and amateur Maverick McNealy, who are tied for third a shot further back.
A day after his grandfather's team won the Champion Golfer's Challenge ahead of the Open at St Andrews, Saunders began his latest quest for a first ever PGA Tour victory in perfect fashion.
Starting on the back nine, the 27-year-old secured his first birdie at the par-five 13th before picking up shots at three successive holes from the 15th to reach the turn in 32.
Another birdie at the second saw him join Flores at the top of the leaderboard and he moved into the outright lead three holes later when he picked up another birdie at the par-five fifth.
Gore, like Saunders starting at the 10th, made a fine start to his round when he birdied immediately and also picked up shots at the 12th, 13th and 16th to reach the turn in 32.
Two bogeys in three holes from the second hampered his progress temporarily but he responded superbly with three successive birdies from the fifth and then notched an eighth and final birdie on the ninth to trail the leader by a single shot in six under.
Flores shot seven birdies and two bogeys and McNealy managed an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys to post five-under-par rounds of 66 to share third place.
They are joined on two shots off the lead by countrymen Will Wilcox and Carlos Sainz Jr and Mexico's Carlos Ortiz.
South Korea's Whee Kim and American Boo Weekley are two of a five-strong group tied for eighth on four under par.
Source: PA
