FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD US unless stated -6 Jim Furyk -3 John Rollins, Brian Bateman, Vijay Singh (Fij), Kenny Perry, Ian Leggatt (Can), Hidemichi Tanaka (Jpn) -2 Patrick Sheehan, Fred Funk, JL Lewis, Brian Gay, Joe Ogilvie, John Senden (Aus)

The 35-year-old, seeking his first win for two years, had five birdies on the back nine at the Westchester club.

Vijay Singh, who launched a fierce attack on the officials for allowing slow play, shot a 68 to join a group of five sharing second at three under.

Padraig Harrington recovered from successive bogeys to post a level 71.

Defending champion Sergio Garcia made a promising start with three birdies in his first six holes, but finished disastrously with four consecutive dropped shots to return a 72.

Singh, who won his first tour title at the Westchester club 12 years ago, had an extraordinarily mixed round having started from the 10th, with five birdies, four dropped shots and an eagle at the par-five 18th.

But it was the pace of play that angered the usually languid Fijian, who observed: "It's ridiculous, I mean, you play a round of golf in five hours and wait on every shot.

"It's like the officials are just blind. You don't see one out there.

"It kind of ruins the rhythm of play. It just messes you up, every shot out there on the front nine, you had to wait."

Meanwhile, former amateur favourite Ryan Moore began his professional career with a level par 71, notching five birdies to overcome a double bogey on his 16th hole.