"I played very well today," Durant told reporters after totalling seven birdies and a sole bogey in only his third start on the Champions Tour. "With no wind, the course is perfect for scoring.
"The greens are at a good pace where you can be aggressive. Obviously that can change over the next three days, but it was good today."
Fellow American Brad Faxon was alone in third after returning a 67 on a sunny but mainly cool day in the second of the year's five major championships for senior golfers.
Kenny Perry, who clinched last week's Regions Tradition in Alabama and is bidding to win his fourth consecutive major on the Champions Tour, opened with a 70.
"Any time you can ever shoot under par in a major, you've done a good job," said the 53-year-old American.
"I was very pleased with my round today, even though I bogeyed the last hole with an eight‑iron in my hand."
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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