Harris English sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole, giving him and partner Matt Kuchar a 14-under-par 58 and a one-stroke lead over Graeme McDowell-Gary Woodland and Billy Horschel-Hunter Mahan after the first round played under a scramble format in the 27th Franklin Templeton Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla.
Kuchar and English, who won the tournament two years ago and finished second last year, took an early lead by making birdies on five of the first six holes and went on to match their winning final-round score from 2013.
“We started hot; Matt made a 40-foot putt on the first hole, dead center,” English said. “And then we finished pretty strong too. We just told stories all the way around and had a good time.”
Added Kuchar: “We were playing from the fairway all day and we made some putts. It was an easy day for me because I just watched Harris hit putts and they kept going in. It was a lot of fun and we just have to keep the mojo going the next couple days.”
In seven rounds in the tournament, English and Kuchar are a combined 79-under.
Mahan holed a 10-foot eagle putt on the 17th hole and teamed with Horschel for a 59 that was good for the early clubhouse lead, which McDowell and Woodland matched when G-Mac stuffed his approach shot to within four feet for a closing birdie.
Daniel Berger, the 2015 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, teamed with Charley Hoffman for a 60 that tied for fourth with Cameron Tringale and Camilo Villegas.
J.B. Holmes and Patrick Reed totaled 61 to tie for sixth with Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker, and Charles Howell and Rory Sabbatini were solo eighth with a 62.
The second round will be played under a modified alternate shot format, with the final round contested under a best-ball format.
The tournament is hosted by Australian great Greg Norman.
