The March winds were again absent and that led to another feast of low scoring in yesterday's opening round of the Honda Classic on the TPC course at Heron Bay, Florida.
Though only six of the world's top 30 players are in action here, eight players posted seven-underpar 65s to share the lead.
A slightly troublesome breeze rose in the afternoon and most of the best scores came on a benign morning with Mike Brisky first out and first to post the target. He was swiftly followed by Skip Kendall, Matt Gogel, Paraguay's Carlos Franco, JP Hayes, Brian Henninger, Dudley Hart and Brian Gay.
Casey Martin, like Hart, went out in the afternoon and he celebrated Monday's victory in the Courts of Appeal by getting to within a stroke of the leaders with six birdies in a six-under 66.
He used a cart, as is his right under this latest ruling against the PGA Tour.
Leading first round scores: 65 - M Brisky, S Kendall, M Gogel, C Franco (Par), JP Hayes, B Henninger, D Hart, B Gay. 66 - M Calcavecchia, P Goydos, C Riley, T Byrum, K Perry, P Jordan, R Fehr, C Martin. 67 - C Parry (Aus), T Herron, J Durant, M Brooks, D Sutherland, C Barlow, K Wentworth, S Murphy, J Buha, D Peoples, J Brandt, H Sutton, M Weir (Can), M Dawson, R Freeman, R Gamez, H Frazar, L Mattiace.
Others: 75 - K Nolan (Ire).
