Martin Laird boosted hopes of securing an invitation into next month's Masters with a rousing four under par 68 on the opening day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The Scot capped his round early on with three birdies in succession from his second hole and on the Bay Hill course where he claimed victory four years ago.
It left Laird just two shots behind little known American Morgan Hoffman who posted a six under par 66 in the $US6.3m event. World No. 1 Rory McIlroy holed a long birdie putt at the last in the round of a two under par 70 but stopped short of slamming the Bay Hill greens despite needing 34 putts and in his last event prior to the Masters.
McIlroy hit all but one of 18 greens in regulation, and missing only the 16th green when he found the water guarding the putting surface.
"I am feeling okay as I saw a lot of positive signs out there today," said McIlroy.
"But then the greens .... it's sort of hard to trust yourself at times as the greens aren't as good as they can be.
"So if it had of been a better putting day I could have shot something a lot lower but then I feel good about my game and there is a lot of positive signs out there and it's what I have been working on in practice for the last week or so."
Twice in his career Laird has won a Masters invitation just weeks before the season's traditional first Major including capturing the 2011 Arnold Palmer hosted event and also two years ago in landing the Valero Texas Open and in the week before Augusta.
"I've always liked this golf course and long before I won here in 2011," said Laird. "It's a golf course where I feel very comfortable and where I have played well on. So despite feeling a little uncomfortable in the heat out there today I feel very much at home. So I've got off to a good start this week and hopefully I can now build on this start."
Unfortunately fellow Scot Russell Know struggled under the weight of four bogeys in a two over par 74. Ian Poulter shot a flawless 67.
Meanwhile the Madeira Islands Open has been reduced to 54 holes after strong winds meant no play was possible at Santo da Serra yesterday.
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