Bob Hope ClassicEngland's Brian Davis made a solid start in the 90-hole Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in California yesterday but it still left him a long way off the lead.

The PGA Tour's first event of the year on the mainland after two events in Hawaii sees the professionals tee up alongside amateurs for the first four days over four different courses, with only the pros playing on Sunday.

Davis, in his first start of the season, began on the Classic Course at NorthStar and had two birdies in his first six holes - the par-five fourth and the short sixth. However, he bogeyed the seventh only to claim that shot back at the long ninth to turn two under par.

Three birdies and one bogey followed in his next four holes - the dropped shot coming at the par-four 10th - to leave him three under through 13, six strokes behind leader Pat Perez, who was playing the Palmer Course at PGA West.

England's Greg Owen, who started on the back nine at La Quinta, drew level with his compatriot after 14 holes with four birdies and only one bogey, at the par-three 15th.

The third Englishman in the field, Justin Rose, birdied the par-four 11th at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club, to be one under after four having started on the 10th.

US PGA champion Phil Mickelson was five under for his opening nine at La Quinta.