TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Paul Casey of Britain shot an impeccable seven-under-par 64 to grab the early lead in the first round of the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook on Thursday.
Casey started at the 10th hole and registered seven birdies without a bogey, capping his stellar card with back-to-back birdies from the seventh.
World number seven Casey, who won the Volvo Golf Champions event on the European Tour this season, held a two-stroke lead over red-hot American Nick Watney.
Watney, who won last week's WGC-Cadillac Championship and has finished top-10 in each of his five tournaments this year, was alone in second place at 66.
The American had taken his score to seven under par after a string of three birdies from the first hole after making the turn, but slipped back with bogeys at the fourth and eighth.
Bunched another stroke back at 67 were South African Rory Sabbatini, Australian John Senden and Americans Justin Leonard, Joe Durant, Ryan Moore and Gary Woodland.
Later starters included defending champion Jim Furyk, Britain's Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington of Ireland and 17-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero.
(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue)
