The four time winner on The European Tour was almost flawless around the Sawgrass course, carding eight birdies and only one bogey, his round also including a blistering outward half of 31 which was only one stroke off the record for the front nine.

Looking down from the top of the leaderboard, one shot clear of Americans Kevin Sutherland and Duffy Waldorf, Scott said: “That’s where I want to see myself – playing under that kind of pressure – and then you are ready to see how good you are.”

A total of 46 players broke par on a day when the Stadium Course played at its most forgiving and amongst those were a host of European Tour contenders.

Next best to Scott was Denmark’s Thomas Björn, who moved into a share of fourth place after his opening 67, while Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and last year’s runner-up Padraig Harrington were amongst a group of five players in a tie for seventh place after opening 68s.

 


Courtesy of www.europeantour.com