David Duval shot his best-ever round at the Kingsmill Golf Club to share the lead after the first round of the Michelob Championship in Virginia.
A double champion here, Duval fired a seven-under-par 64 to finish tied with Japan’s Hidemichi Tanaka.
Duval won this tournament in 1997 and 1998 but has never shot better than a 65 at Kingsmill.
In his eighth appearance here, he started and finished strongly, collecting an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.
It is the first time the former Open champion has had the first-round lead since last year’s Buick Challenge.
Scott Hoch, another member of the Ryder Cup team, shot a 66 and is tied for third with Corey Pavin, red-hot Loren Roberts, Bart Bryant and Argentina’s Jose Coceres.
USA Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange, a native of Norfolk who plays out of Kingsmill, stumbled to a three-over 74 and is 10 shots back.
Double defending champion David Toms is six strokes off the pace after a one-under 70.