Seamus Power is just three off the lead at the CareerBuilder Challenge in California after shooting an impressive opening 67.
The Waterford man finished in a tie for 49th at last weekend's Sony Open in Hawaii and made a strong start Stateside on Thursday as he looks to build some early season momentum.
He holed seven birdies to sit five-under-par, with a double-bogey on the par-five 15th the only blot on his copybook.
Power is one of 13 players on -5, with five-time major winner Phil Mickelson was a shot behind on four under, but defending champion Jason Dufner could only manage a one under 71.
American Dominic Bozzelli is however setting the pace on eight-under after a sizzling 64.
Web.com Tour graduate Bozzelli had six birdies and holed his approach from 110 yards on the 14th for eagle to shoot an eight-under-par 64 on the Stadium Course.
The first three rounds are split over three courses before a 54-hole cut, and Venezuela's former winner Jhonattan Vegas and American Patton Kizzire both made seven-under 65s on the Nicklaus Tournament layout.
Hudson Swafford and Harold Varner III, the latter a recent winner in Australia, were also on seven under after 65s over the La Quinta CC course.
Having started on the back nine, 25-year-old Bozzelli birdied the 11th before his two on the par-four 14th sent him soaring up the leaderboard.
After another gain on the 18th, Bozzelli finished with four birdies in his last six holes - the highlight a 22-footer on the sixth.
