Kevin Stadler fired a bogey-free 64 to seize the lead on Thursday in the weather-disrupted first round of The Barclays, the US$8 million opening event of the US PGA Tour playoffs.
Stadler had a one-stroke lead over Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, Ryan Palmer and Colombian Camilo Villegas.
It was a further stroke back to Australian Jason Day and American Matt Kuchar on 66.
World number one Tiger Woods, whose five victories this season sent him into the playoffs atop the points standings, also played without a bogey, posting a four-under 67 at Liberty National Golf Club.
He was tied in the clubhouse with Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge, Canadian Graham DeLaet and fellow Americans Nicholas Thompson, Matt Every and Morgan Hoffman, while Harris English was also at four-under having played just six holes.
Two weather delays lasted a total of five hours and 51 minutes. No one who teed off in the afternoon played more than nine holes and some completed only two.