Furyk surges to early lead at Tampa PGA event

Jim Furyk has surged into the lead after the opening round of the 5.4 million dollar PGA Transitions Championship, firing a six-under-par 65 to open a one-stroke advantage.

The 38-year-old American, who started on the back nine, posted birdies on three of his first five holes and finished with seven. He stumlbed near the end of the round, bogeying the par-3 eighth hole on Thursday.

Furyk already has a pair of top-10 finishes this year but has not won a tournament since the Canadian Open two years ago.

Thirteen players are within three strokes of the top of the leaderboard, including Canadian Stephen Ames, who is just one stroke back after firing a 5-under 66.

Ames also began his day on the back nine and bogeyed the par-4 No. 16. But he finished his round strong, sinking birdies on Nos. 1, 3 and 5.

Matthew Goggin, Jonathan Byrd and Kenny Perry are deadlocked in third place at 4-under, while nine players are tied at 3-under.

The day did not go so well for the tournament's reigning champion, Sean O'Hair.

The 26-year-old American broke par on 15 holes but had a pair of bogeys on Nos. 3 and 16, dropping him to 1-over for the day and tied for 75th place.







Part of Compania Church is reflected in a mirror in Quito, Ecuador, on March 15. REUTERS/Guillermo Granja