Graeme McDowell was cautiously optimistic after showing signs of a welcome return to form with an opening 66 in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron on Thursday.
New Zealand's Danny Lee heads the leaderboard after the first round with a one-shot lead on McDowell and Jim Furyk after posting a 65, with Players Championship winner Rickie Fowler in the clubhouse on three under alongside Justin Rose.
McDowell has managed just one top-ten finish on either side of the Atlantic all season, a share of ninth place in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on 1 February.
So the former US Open champion was not about to get too carried away despite carding five birdies and one bogey to set the clubhouse target on four under par at Firestone Country Club.
"When you are playing against some of the best fields in the world and you can post two or three rounds in the 60s and feel you are back competing at the top level, the confidence should come back to me quickly," McDowell, who started the Scottish Open with consecutive 66s last month but faded to 31st, said.
"One 66 is not going to do it, I'm going to need a few. I know what to do when I do get on the leaderboards and it's just a case of continuing to do what I am doing. I am just excited to post a good early round and get out tomorrow and get back at it."
McDowell surged into the lead with birdies on the second, third, sixth and seventh in a front nine of 31, before picking up another shot on the tenth.
However, after dropping his first shot of the day on the 12th, the 36-year-old had to scramble for par on the next five holes before narrowly missing from 20 feet for birdie on the 18th.
"I drove the ball really well. I'm excited to post a good early round." - @Graeme_McDowell pic.twitter.com/iUTRySa84N
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 6, 2015
Shane Lowry carded a 70 and Padraig Harrington a 72 to finish level par and two over respectively.
Sergio Garcia, who lost a three-shot lead in the final round to Rory McIlroy 12 months ago, shot 71 after battling back superbly from a quadruple-bogey on the 16th - his seventh hole of the day - where he found water with his approach, missed the green with his fifth shot and eventually three-putted.
Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spieth, who would replace McIlroy as world number one with a victory on Sunday, birdied the 18th to finish level par alongside playing partner and Open champion Zach Johnson.
