Allenby won the last of his four PGA Tour titles in 2001

Australian Robert Allenby edged into a one-shot lead after the first round of the Honda Classic in Florida.

The 37-year-old fired a four-under 66 at the Champion Course to edge clear of six players including Sergio Garcia, Angel Cabrera and Stewart Cink.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke shot a level-par 70 alongside countryman Rory McIlroy, who triple-bogeyed the short 17th before salvaging a birdie on 18.

Tiger Woods is absent despite making his comeback from injury last week.

The 37-year-old Allenby, the world number 33, carded six birdies, including one at the last, alongside two bogeys as he chases a fifth PGA Tour title and first since 2001.

McIlory, 19, playing his first strokeplay event in America after finishing as quarter-finalist in last week's WGC Match Play event in Arizona, reached the turn in level par and was two under through 16, two off the lead.

But he fell foul of Jack Nicklaus's famous "Bear Trap" on the 17th hole of the Nicklaus-designed course in Palm Beach Gardens.

McIlroy's tee shot kicked off a bank and teetered on the edge of the lake, but after donning his waterproofs, his second shot failed to make it up and rolled back into the water.

He was able to play it, but his next attempt flew into a bunker on the other side and he ended with a six for one over before salvaging a birdie at the 604-yard last.

The 29-year-old Garcia, a first round loser in Tucson, was out in front after an outward four-under 31, but he bogeyed the short 15th at the start of the "Bear Trap" closing stretch.

Sweden's Mathias Gronberg amassed an 89, three months after a round of 64 helped him regain his PGA Tour card. The 38-year-old slumped to a back-nine 50 which included three triple-bogey sevens, two double bogeys and two bogeys.

Gronberg was last by seven strokes from struggling 2001 Open champion David Duval, who came home in 43 for an 82, going in the water on the final two holes and running up a triple-bogey six followed a double-bogey seven.

England's Greg Owen was two over, while defending champion Ernie Els shot 73, as did another Englishman Justin Rose and Scotland's Martin Laird.

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