Last years winners on top in Naples
Defending champions Kenny Perry and Sean O’Hair are in a share of the lead after the first round of the Franklin Templeton Shootout.
Last year’s winners carded a combined eight-under-par 64 in the modified alternate-shot format event in Naples, Florida, to take a share of the lead alongside the teams of Matt Kuchar-Harris English and Charles Howell III-Justin Leonard.
Perry and O’Hair reached three-under after the front nine, before carding four consecutive birdies – starting at the 13th – to race up the leaderboard.
Howell and Leonard started slowly before carding three consecutive birdies towards the end of the front nine, and then went five-under coming in to join the defending champions atop the standings.
Kuchar and English looked destined to be in third place until they eagled the 17th to join the top pair on eight-under.
In fourth place, three shots behind the leaders are the pair of Retief Goosen and Fredik Jacobson, who shot a 67.
Jason Dufner and Dustin Johnson are tied with Chris DiMarco and Billy Horschel at four-under, another shot further behind.
The 12-competing teams in the Florida event will then play better ball on Saturday, before finishing on Sunday with a scramble.
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