Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger led The European Tour challenge as the first round of the US PGA Championship began at Oak Hill.
The 27 year old, twice a winner on The Race to Dubai last season, birdied the second and third to race to two under par as the early starters looked to take advantage of a rain-softened course.
Overnight rain had cleared in time to leave ideal scoring conditions and 2001 winner David Toms was making the most of his opportunity with three birdies in his first six holes to lead on three under.
Wiesberger was one of seven players a shot behind, with Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and South African trio Ernie Els, Branden Grace and Richard Sterne among those a shot further back.
Ireland's Shane Lowry was in the opening group from the first and saved par there from ten feet after charging his birdie putt past the hole.
A superb approach to five feet set up a birdie on the second but Lowry's tee shot to the par three third came up just short of the green and, despite the damp conditions, rolled 20 yards down the slope.
From there the two-time European Tour winner pitched to six feet but was unable to save par and dropped back to level.
Tiger Woods, seeking a 15th Major title and his first since the 2008 US Open Championship, was also among the early starters and began with two scrambled pars on the tenth and 11th.
Woods, fresh from winning his eighth WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday by seven shots, holed from eight feet for par on the tenth after charging a long-range birdie attempt past the hole.
And the World Number One then missed the green on the par three 11th but chipped to within three feet of the flag to remain level par.
A creek which runs across the 13th fairway around 300 yards from the tee meant Woods hit an iron off the tee, despite the par five measuring 598 yards.
But after another iron left him 150 yards from the green, the 37 year old fired a superb approach to within two feet of the flag to set up his first birdie of the day.
