Rory McIlroy is just one shot off the lead after the first round of the CJ Cup at Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina.
The Northern Irishman shot a 66 to end the day on five-under-par, while Gary Woodland and Trey Mullinax share the lead on six-under following their 65s.
Mullinax and Woodland both ran off three birdies early. Mullinax already was seven-under through 12 holes when his birdies dried up. Woodland finished with two birdies.
South Korea's Tom Kim went birdie-for-birdie with McIlroy for much of the day, with the 20-year-old ultimately finishing on 67.
McIlroy was ranked 14th in the world before his victory in Las Vegas last year but has since recorded two further wins and 12 other top-10 finishes to get within striking distance of world number one Scottie Scheffler.
There were good starts too for Seamus Power [four-under] and Shane Lowry [three-under].
Power was last of the Irish contingent to tee off and despite a closing bogey, he sits inside the top 10.
The highlight of his round was an eagle at the 12th as his chipped effort from the bunker checked slightly right and just caught the edge of the hole to drop.
Offaly man Lowry didn't drop a shot all day, and birdies at the fourth and 12th and the short par-four 15th, along with 15 pars, left him in a tie for 15th.
Scheffler tried to hold off McIlroy, switching putters but had two birdies and two bogeys for a 71.
Rickie Fowler, who had the 54-hole lead in Japan last week, fell back early when he four-putted from 20 feet on the fourth hole. He went round in a three-over 74.
Additional reporting: PA
