Adam Scott leads by one after the first round at Firestone, while Tiger Woods posted an encouraging 68 on his return to action.
Australian posts immaculate 62 to lead by one at Firestone
Adam Scott fired a spectacular 62 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, while Tiger Woods shot an encouraging two-under par 68 on his return to competitive action.
Scott, with Woods' former caddie Steve Williams on his bag, produced eight birdies and not a single dropped shot during a virtually flawless display at Firestone Golf and Country Club.
That was good enough to end one stroke clear of compatriot Jason Day who had led for much of the day after posting a 63, with American Nick Watney on his own in third at five-under.
But former world number one Woods claimed plenty of headlines of his own as he put in a confident and measured display in his first outing since The Masters in April.
The American, who has overcome injuries in his left leg, started with nine straight pars but picked up three birdies and just a single bogey on his back nine to finish on two-under in a tie for 18th in the 76-man field.
"It felt good today," Woods told Sky Sports after his round. "I hit the ball really flush.
Flush
"The hardest part was controlling my distances because I hadn't hit the ball this flush in a long time - the amount of compression I was getting was just incredible. It was fun.
"I've got much more speed and compression through impact and the ball's just taking off. You've got to factor that in with the heat and I was hitting numbers that I hadn't hit before."
Asked how his he felt physically, Woods added: "It's fun. I guess this is how you guys must feel isn't it... walking around pain-free!"
Scot Martin Laird was leading the British challenge, part of a large group on four-under after five birdies in seven holes on the front nine.
Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson were only one further back, but it proved a miserable day for Darren Clarke who played with Woods, the Open champion sharing last place with Sunday's Irish Open winner Simon Dyson on seven-over.
The Ulsterman did have the thrill of sinking a 183-yard approach for an eagle two on the eighth, but he was already three over by then and he was then in the lake for a double-bogey seven at the 16th in a bitterly disappointing back nine of 41.
McIlroy fightback
Rory McIlroy, who revealed on the eve of the event that he is almost certain to rejoin the PGA Tour next year, was two-over early on, but eagled the second during a front nine comeback and commented: "It was a decent opening round. I've still got a little bit to work on, but 68 is not a bad start."
In contrast, compatriot Graeme McDowell went from three -nder to one-over, the same as Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, with Paul Casey two worse than that after a closing double-bogey.
Westwood has started working with Dave Stockton on his putting and Bob Rotella on his mind and declared: "I'm not spending so much time over the ball.
"I feel like it freed my stroke a little bit. I catch myself a few times where I had to stand off it because I had taken too long over it.
"I got it right most of the time, it's just a case of practising it. A 67 is never anything to complain about around this golf course, even when there's not much wind and it's playing soft. I was pleased with the way I played."
Donald kept a bogey off his card, but had to settle for only two birdies at the 10th and second. He said afterwards: "I could have gone a little bit lower if I had got the putter rolling a little bit better, but tee to green it was very solid.
"Hopefully I can see the lines a bit better tomorrow and make a few more putts."
