Appleby leaves his mark at Texas Open

Australian Stuart Appleby went on a five-hole birdie blitz to be perched near the top of the leaderboard before first round play was suspended in the Texas Open because of darkness.

Even par through 13 holes, the Victorian closed with five straight birdies to finish with a five-under-par 67.

He was three behind leader Brendan Steele, who still has five holes to complete, and one back of second-placed Charley Hoffman.

"I didn't have a lot of opportunities early in the round," Appleby said.

"I had a couple that you want to make, you want to get something going.

"But I got something going, I had some great shots, made some putts and happened to be at the end of my round - you move quickly."

Australia's Matt Jones was next best of the large Australian contingent. He was two shots behind Appleby, mixing his four birdies with a bogey on the par-4 12th hole.

Rhein Gibson (nine holes) and Cameron Percy (eight holes) are both even par, but Rod Pampling (one-over), Aaron Baddeley (two over), Greg Chalmers (two-over through 11), Geoff Ogilvy (three-over - after 13), John Senden (three-over through 12) and Ryan Ruffels (four- over) all find themselves on the wrong side of par.

Steele, whose lone PGA Tour victory came in the tournament five years ago, was unable to finish the opening round after play was delayed for 3 1/2 hours because of morning rain.

Defending champion Jimmy Walker opened with a 75. Walker had four rounds under par last year in his hometown event to hold off Jordan Spieth in what was his last PGA Tour victory.

Spieth, whose meltdown in the back nine cost him the 2016 US Masters, isn't in this year's field.

It is the first time since turning pro at the end of 2012 he has missed a Texas event.

When Steele returns on Friday morning to complete the first round at the TPC Oaks Course, he could make a run at the course record of 63 set by Matt Every in 2012 and matched by Martin Laird in 2012.