Seamus Power continued his blistering recent form with a round of 65 earning him a share of third place after the first round of The American Express in California.
Power has played his way into the top 50 of the world rankings and going by his performance at La Quinta, he looks likely to stay there. The Waterford man has a scoring average of 66.4 from his nine rounds so far this year.
Playing on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, Power enjoyed a bogey-free round with seven birdies as he hit 17 greens in regulation, leaving him on seven under, three shots off the leaders Lee Hodges and Patrick Cantlay, who sit on 10 under.
"I mean overall very pleased. Any time you're bogey-free it's always going to be very positive thing. I played very, very nicely, especially on the front, gave myself plenty of chances," said Power, who reiterated his fondness for La Quinta.
"I've always liked it here. I like the greens, I seem to read them pretty well, that's such a big thing and I feel comfortable doing that.
"This time of year in Palm Springs it's so pretty here, I mean it's perfect conditions and you just kind of feel like you're going to make some good swings and hopefully I can kind of keep it up over the weekend."
Graeme McDowell is a shot behind Power as he also made a fine start to the tournament with a round of 66.
McDowell got off to a fine start with four birdies for his first six holes although a bogey on the ninth did slow his gallop slightly.
He recovered with a run on three birdies on the 10th, 11th and 13th to leave him four shots off the pace.
