Green storms to Texas lead

Some fine putting saw Nathan Green card an opening round of 62 and grab the lead in the Texas Open.

Green registered six birdies in his first 10 holes and nine overall to lead the way on eight-under-par at La Cantera Golf Club's Resort Course.

The 33-year-old Australian leads Olin Brown and Paul Claxton by two strokes with six players tied for fourth a shot further back on five-under.

"It was just one of those rounds where everything went right," Green said.

"For two months, I felt I couldn't do anything right so the last month felt a lot better."

"I made a good run from about six onwards and made a good 10-footer on six and just hit it close."

Green, whose best finish on the PGA Tour this season was third at the Honda Classic, fired five consecutive birdies from the sixth and picked up back-to-back strokes on the 13th and 14th.

"It was just one of those days I got the speed (of the greens) early, and I didn't have a great deal of work," he added.

"I had a couple of easy birdies but I didn't have to work too hard. I just made some every now and again it felt like I hit some good putts that kept the confidence going and kept me on the run."

Green added a birdie on the 16th before his lone blemish came when he bogeyed the par-three 17th. He ended the day by parring the final hole to open up a two-stroke advantage over Browne and Claxton, who both shot 64s.

Starting on the back nine, Browne recorded a flawless round and finished with six birdies.

"This course is right up my alley," he said.

"I hit every green and only had one shaky putt. I like this golf course. It fits my eye and I'm happy to get to the start that I did."

Claxton also did not drop a stroke in his effort and birdied his final two holes to move into a tie for second.

Greg Kraft finished the day with consecutive birdies on the 16th, 17th and 18th to shoot a 65 as the 44-year-old joined Patrick Sheehan, Jason Gore, Nick O'Hern, Tim Herron and Chad Collins in a tie for fourth.

"If you hit solid putts, you got the ball rolling, you had a good chance to make plenty (of birdies)," said O'Hern, who recorded five birdies.

Defending champion Justin Leonard, meanwhile, could only card an even-par 70.

"I hit the ball pretty well off the tee but didn't make any putts," he said.

"The greens weren't as good as they have been but they were good enough to make putts."

Tim Wilkinson, the only New Zealander in the field, started brightly with a three-under 67 to be tied for 20th.

One of the oldest stops on the PGA Tour, the Texas Open is the third of seven Fall Series events on the schedule. It will move to a spring date next season and become a part of a three-event tour through the Lone Star state.