The FedEx Cup play-offs got underway on Thursday with flawless pair Patrick Reed and Martin Laird earning a share of a one-stroke lead at The Barclays.
Reed — seventh in the FedEx Cup rankings — carded a bogey-free five-under-par 66, opening with 10 consecutive pars on the back nine before sinking the first of his three birdies on the second, and his 11th hole at Bethpage State Park's famed Black Course in New York.
The 26-year-old, a four-time PGA Tour winner, eagled the par-five fourth hole and he then holed two more birdies en route to the top of the leaderboard.
Reed has company at the top via Laird, who powered into contention with an equally strong performance on the front nine. Laird, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, sunk four birdies from his first eight holes before adding a fifth on the 16th.
Rickie Fowler, 28th in the standings, is a stroke adrift alongside Emiliano Grillo, Kevin Chappell and J.B. Holmes.
Fowler had three birdies and an eagle, just like Reed, but a bogey on the ninth cost him a spot among the two leaders.
World No. 1 defending Barclays champion Jason Day is still right in the hunt, sitting at three under after a solid first round. The Australian sunk one birdie as he made his way across the back before finishing the day with another three birdies and a bogey on the second.
Jonas Blixt, Jhonattan Vargas and Sung Kang are all tied with Day in equal seventh. Reigning FedEx Cup champion Jordan Spieth is five strokes off the lead after posting an even 71, while Olympic gold medallist Justin Rose went two over.
He was not the only Rio medallist to struggle, with winner of silver - Henrik Stenson - going three over before pulling out of the tournament, citing a knee injury.
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