R1 LEADERBOARD US unless stated -6 B Curtis, JL Lewis -5 K Sutherland, J Rose (GB), M Putnam, F Langham, V Taylor -4 H Tanaka (Jpn), C Pavin, C Smith, J Durant Selected others: -1 L Westwood (GB) Level D Clarke (GB) +1 B Davis (GB) +3 P Price (GB)

The 25-year-old fired five birdies, three of which came in his first six holes, in a flawless round to end up in a group of five players on five under.

American pair Ben Curtis and JL Lewis lead the way on six under.

Lee Westwood is on one under, Darren Clarke ended on level par after a mixed round while Brian Davis is a shot further back.

Westwood was in contention at three under after 15 holes but he dropped shots at both the 16th and 17th to slide to a tie for 42nd.

Clarke meanwhile had an up-and-down round of five birdies and five bogeys at River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Welshman Phillip Price had a double-bogey six at the 18th in a 73.

Curtis won the Open in 2003 but has not claimed a title since and last year he made just nine of 20 cuts and managed just one top-10 finish.

His poor form has continued this year with 12 missed cuts in his first 14 events.

"It seems one thing's led to another," said Curtis. "I started hitting the ball good, started putting good. Everything has kind of come together at the right time.

"The last year or so, there has been no excuse. I just struggled with the game. Maybe it was just from getting some bad habits from those times."