Jim Herman has claimed the opening-round lead on a day which saw world number one Rory McIlroy falter in the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens.
Herman, who has never won on the PGA Tour, enjoyed the better of the day's conditions in the morning, and finished with two birdies in his final three holes to card a five-under-par 65, which was enough to hand him a one-shot lead ahead of Brendan Steele.
McIlroy struggled to produce similar success as the wind made it difficult for the players teeing off in the afternoon, and the Northern Irishman was soon on the back foot due to two double-bogeys in the opening five holes.
Successive birdies to finish the round helped McIlroy to three-over on his first competitive day of action in America this year.
Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington is just two strokes behind the leader alongside Patrick Reed and Martin Flores, while Martin Kaymer is in a group a shot further back.
Callum Mulvihill
