Australia's Steven Bowditch has made a solid start in the defence of his title at the US PGA Tour's Byron Nelson in Texas, shooting a first-round 68 to sit five shots off the lead.
Sergio Garcia, Danny Lee and Johnson Wagner all carded red-hot seven-under-par 63 on Thursday to sit at the top of the leaderboard while the best-placed Australian was Cameron Percy, tied for 17th at four-under 66.
Jordan Spieth finished off a six-under 64 just before dark forced the suspension of play at TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving.
Lee and Wagner, like Spieth, were just able to complete the round that started two-and-a-half hours late after early-morning rain.
Dallas native Spieth, who just missed a long eagle chance on the par-5 16th that would have matched the lead, is playing only his second tournament since squandering a five-stroke lead on the back nine at the Masters.
The world No.2-ranked player missed the cut last week at The Players Championship.
Spieth's first PGA Tour event was the Nelson as a 16-year-old amateur six years ago.
"This week felt a bit different than the past couple years as a professional. I don't know what it is," Spieth said.
"I came out and maybe kind of the bad weather has kind of softened the crowds and hasn't felt the same. Everything has been a bit more calm this week and it's been a lot easier to just stay in a normal rhythm."
Dustin Johnson and Freddie Jacobson also had 64s. Tom Hoge, one of 30 players unable to finish, was 6 under through 14 holes.
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