Aussies face uphill battle as Crowe sets lightning pace

Even though Vilips is well outside the top 100 at No.139, as winner of the Puerto Rico Open he will enjoy a degree of past-champion exemption security.

But it is far more tricky for the out-of-form Davis, who at No.168 is at the wrong end of the standings.

He opened with an even-par 72 on Thursday at Fazio Canyons Course at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa.

Davis, who is currently world No.405, is 10 shots behind leader Trace Crowe who made 10 birdies in his 62.

Vilips is at two-under after a whirlwind experience, mixing eight birdies with four bogeys and a double on the par-three 11th.

Crowe is in danger of losing his PGA Tour card for the second time in three years.

He is at No.117 in the FedEx Cup Fall although he gets a few more starts early next year because of wrist surgery that kept him from starting until April.

Crowe found an adjustment in his swing with the driver and made 10 birdies. He putted for birdie on every hole except the par-3 11th, where his tee shot went over the green and he chipped to tap-in range for par.

"Just every part of my game was good. It didn't feel fluky at all," said Crowe, who matched his PGA Tour low of 63 two weeks ago. "Every part of it was just kind of like full go. Made some nice putts and count 'em up, 62, yeah."

He had a two-shot lead over Erik van Rooyen and Max Greyserman, who barely beat darkness by holing a 70-foot chip on the par-5 18th for eagle and a 64.

Teenager Blades Brown (65) is fourth and trying to become the youngest PGA Tour winner in 95 years.

Brown's playoff victory last week in Mexico all but assured him a pair of $20 million signature events early next year, and now he has his eyes on the Masters if he can finish the year in the top 50 in the world ranking. The win moved him to No.62.

But this was only a start on an Omni Barton Creek course that yielded low scoring before darkness suspended the first round with 25 players yet to finish.

with AAP