Venezuelan rookie Jhonattan Vegas lived up to his glitzy surname by charging into a tie for the lead in Thursday's opening round of the Las Vegas Open.
The 27-year-old from Maturin fired a sparkling eight-under-par 63 on a sweltering day at the TPC Summerlin.
Vegas, who won his first PGA Tour title at the Bob Hope Classic in January, racked up 10 birdies and two bogeys to end the round level with American journeyman William McGirt, a fellow rookie.
Australian Nathan Green and South Korean Charlie Wi opened with 64s while Germany's Alex Cejka, American Nick Watney and Australian Rod Pampling were among a group of 11 knotted on 65.
American Jonathan Byrd, who spectacularly clinched his fourth PGA Tour victory here last year with an ace at the fourth extra hole of a sudden-death playoff, launched his title defence with a 71.
