Adam Scott made a blistering start to the Arnold Palmer Invitational as a 10-under 62 gave him a three-shot lead on Thursday.
The Australian world number two equalled the record at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando as two eagles, seven birdies and a bogey saw him into a strong lead. Scott, who is on track to overtake the injured Tiger Woods atop the world rankings this year, also looks set to go into April's Masters in form. Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and American John Merrick both carded seven-under 65s to sit in a share of second. Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (66) is outright fourth, a shot ahead of a group of six players a shot behind him. The day belonged to Scott, who with a win would inch closer to Woods at the top of the rankings. The Masters champion started on the back nine and birdied four of his first six holes, before moving to six under for the day with an eagle at the par-five 16th. A bogey at the 18th was his only blemish for the day, as he produced three birdies and an eagle on the front nine. "Obviously I'm really thrilled with the start," Scott said. "I think to make it to number one in anything is an incredible achievement, it's a big world and there are a lot of people doing this. "One week at number one would pale in significance to someone like the dominance of Tiger and some other guys but it's a start and you're heading in the right direction. "I've got a chance, I've got to play hard for the next three days, but there is no better motivation than to win this tournament, shake Arnold's hand and have a chance at world number one." Ishikawa and Merrick both holed eight birdies in their rounds, while Fernandez-Castano's two bogeys cost him. Englishman Paul Casey, Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Italian Francesco Molinari and Americans Brandt Snedeker, Morgan Hoffman and Jason Kokrak are tied for fifth at five under. Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, England's Ian Poulter and the American quartet of Ryan Moore, Charles Howell III, JB Holmes and Brendan Steele are at four under.