Jay Haas and Brandel Chamblee each carded nine-under-par 63s to share the lead after the first of five rounds of the Bob Hope Classic.
Eight others had 64s on one of the tournament's four courses in La Quinta.
Among them were world number two Phil Mickelson and Jerry Kelly, who won last week's Sony Open in Hawaii.
Included in a group of seven players to shoot 65 were reigning Rookie of the Year Charles Howell III, 1998 Player of the Year Mark O'Meara and former US Open champion Corey Pavin.
Also carding a 65 was JP Hayes, who tied the PGA Tour record by making eight straight birdies at Tamarisk Country Club.
The other courses in the rotation are the host Palmer Course, Bermuda Dunes and Indian Wells.
Each course was mastered as 76 of the 128 players cracked 70 and 100 broke par.