Australian Greg Chalmers is four shots off the lead after an opening-round 68 at the US PGA Tour's Phoenix Open.
Chalmers sits in a 17-way for 12th at three-under par, behind American Bill Hass who shot a seven-under 64 for a two-stroke lead at Scottsdale on Thursday.
Chalmers was closing strongly with birdies on the 15th and 16th holes before a bogey on the par-four 18th.
Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman are the next best-placed Australians at two-under with a share of 29th.
Haas birdied holes 12 and 13, made a 20-footer for eagle on the par-five 15th and drove to a metre away to set up another birdie on the par-three 16th, the stadium hole that tripped up Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas.
Haas added birdies on second and fourth and parred the final five.
Fowler bogeyed the 16th in a 66 that left him tied in second with fellow Americans Billy Horschel, Bryson DeChambeau, Chris Kirk and Chesson Hadley.
"I knew going out early this morning when it was cold the first few holes on the back nine can jump up and get you if you're not careful," Fowler told Golf Channel.
"I eased into the round nicely ... turned at three under, did a good job of saving a couple of pars, rolled in a long one (45 feet) on four and good birdie on eight."
Fowler is coming off an uncharacteristic missed cut at Torrey Pines last week, but shrugged it off as a mere blip on the radar.
"Last week was a little hiccup, just made a few too many mistakes. We're right back where we left off (before that)," he said.
Spanish world No.2 Jon Rahm is in a group of five three behind, while American Thomas trails by four.
In a field that includes four of the top five players in the world rankings, Japan's two-times defending champion Hideki Matsuyama made a decent start to trail by five shots, but out-of-sorts American Jordan Spieth struggled to a one-over 72.
Reuters/AP
