Claxton sounds charge in Mexico

Will Claxton leads the Mayakoba Classic after a five-under-par opening round of 66 at Mexico's El Camaleon resort.

Having started from the 10th tee, the 30-year-old American birdied the 17th and a run of four more birdies from the second made it five in seven holes, giving him the overnight lead for the first time in his fledgling PGA Tour career.

The blemish-free card left him one stroke clear of a seven-strong group of players, including five compatriots along with England's Greg Owen, who was four under after seven holes but progressed no further after three bogeys, and Spain's Alejandro Canizares.

Charles Howell III birdied four of his last six holes, as did Marc Turnesa in a bogey-free round, while John Huh, Matt Every and Mark D Anderson completed the septet.

Eight more players follow at three under on a tightly-packed leaderboard, including Noh Seung-yul after an eventful round. The Korean opened birdie-birdie-bogey-par-eagle, birdied seven and eight only to give both shots back at the 10th, then finished birdie-bogey for a 68.

Nick Price, Stephen Ames and Robert Allenby are among those a further shot back but defending champion Johnson Wagner could only manage a two-over-par 73.

Two shots better is Jose de Jesus Rodriguez, who narrowly missed out on the day's only hole in one when his drive at the eighth landed straight in the hole but bounced out, leaving a 25-foot putt which he holed.