Former champions Justin Leonard and Davis Love jumped out to a quick start at the Heritage on Thursday, grabbing a share of the first-round lead along with Lucas Glover.
All three carded five-under-par 66 at Harbour Town Golf Links to lead the US$5.5 million tournament.
Leonard, winner of the tournament in 2002, posted six birdies and one bogey.
The former British Open champion closed strong, with birdies on two of his last three holes.
Love has a spectacular track record at this venue, with five victories to his credit.
Although he has missed the cut in three of seven starts this year and tied for 24th as his best finish, Love demonstrated his comfort level with birdies on four of the first seven holes in his bogey-free round.
“Best start I’ve had this year,” Love said. “I’ve been putting myself behind the eight ball usually the first nine holes or first day or first hole, seems like every round. So it’s nice to birdie the first two and get off to a good start and get a good round and get ahead of the eight ball rather than behind it.”
Lucas, meanwhile, had to overcome a shaky start after bogeys on the third and fourth. He rebounded with consecutive birdies at eight, nine and 10, and added two more on 15 and 16.
“I had a slow start, birdied early, a couple of bogeys, another birdie, kind of waffling,” Glover said. “And then nine, had a good wedge shot. I made the turn at a couple of under, which felt good.”
Stewart Cink headlined a cluster of 10 players one shot back at four-under 67.
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