Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk took advantage of early tee-off times to shoot five-under-par 67s for a share of the lead after the first round of PGA Mastercard Colonial at Fort Worth.
Defending champion Mickelson and Furyk had both started before 8 a.m., avoiding the strong winds that lashed the Colonial Country Club and helped keep all but 28 players in the 112-man field from breaking par.
"I think the golf course is playing pretty difficult, especially for me on the back side," said Furyk, who bogeyed two of his last six holes.
"It is tough to tell what it is going to take over the next few days to be successful, especially with the winds swirling the way they are," said Mickelson, who finished his round with three straight birdies.
Brian Gay is second at 66, and Tom Lehman, David Toms and Mark Brooks are tied for fourth at 67. Only 23 others broke par on a course that forced Mark Calcaveccia into an 81.
Sergio Garcia and Per-Ulrik Johansson were the leading Europeans after carding one-under-par 69s to share joint 16th place.