Briny Baird shot a career-best 63 in the first round

The American is at 10 under for the tournament, one stroke ahead of South Africa's Retief Goosen, who shot a 66, and two clear of Skip Kendall.

Baird led by three strokes at the start of the day and fired seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey to keep the big names at bay.

"It's hard to get the ball close on some of these pins," said Baird.

"They are two or three yards on top of these ridges and the ball is spinning so much that you can't throw it far enough behind it."

World number one Tiger Woods remains in the hunt at six under par following a 69 but could not build on a strong start.

The things I've been working on are starting to come together Tiger Woods

Playing the back nine first in his morning round, Woods birdied four of the first nine holes to reach eight under before dropping back with three bogeys on the front nine.

"To have it going like that and to give it all away with poor putting, that's a little frustrating," said Woods.

"I've played nine holes well each day. I just need to keep it going longer than that.

"I'm starting to get more into the rhythm. The things I've been working on are starting to come together.

"It's just a matter of getting up there and just trusting everything."

Goosen went through the first eight holes at one over par but then eagled the par-five ninth and made four birdies on the back nine.

Defending champion Chris Smith missed the cut by a stroke as his superb round of 65 could not make up for a 78 on Thursday.