Retief Goosen made a blistering start at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational to move into an early lead.
Goosen had reached five under par after 13 holes as The European Tour member opened up a two-shot advantage during the opening round at Firestone Country Club, Ohio.
The South African reached the 14th tee without dropping a shot and birdied the par five second and picked up another shot at the par three fifth.
Goosen then went round the turn in three under par to move clear of the chasing pack.
A birdie at eight was followed by a par but back-to-back threes on the par four tenth and 11th meant that the two time European Order of Merit winner was the man to catch.
Another South African, Tim Clark, is Goosen’s nearest challenger with a score of three under after 13 holes.
Clark started on the back nine and picked up shots at 14 and 16 only to bogey the par four 17th.
He immediately made amends at 18 with a three at the par four and then picked up shots at the first and second as he closed in on his countryman, only to bogey four and drop back.
Vijay Singh has joined Clark in second place, with birdies at two, five and nine firing him up the leaderboard after nine holes.
American trio Chad Campbell, Chez Reavie and Rocco Mediate are two under par having played 11, 14 and 11 holes respectively.
European Tour members Richard Green, Daniel Chopra and Scott Strange are all going well and sit one under par, alongside England's Open Championship runner-up Ian Poulter, who is through 13.
