England's Ian Poulter flew the flag for Europe early on in the opening round of the £3 million Verizon Heritage Classic at Hilton Head Island. He carded a two-under-par 69 to lie six shots off the lead set by American Vaughn Taylor.

Poulter showed no ill effects from missing last week's Masters - having dropped out of the world's top 50 - with a bogey-free opening nine of 33.

A birdie at the par-four third was followed with a four at the 530-yard fifth and the short par-four ninth provided the Milton Keynes golfer with the chance to pick up another shot.

His only bogey came at the 436-yard 11th but he played regulation golf for the remainder of his round to post his name on an American-dominated leaderboard.

Taylor's eight-under-par round of 63 began inauspiciously as, starting from the 10th, he carded five straight pars before his day burst into life with four successive birdies to turn in 31.

A bogey-five at the first hole appeared to have ended that run but he bounced back to register five birdies in eight holes - finishing at the ninth by hitting his 138-yard approach to seven feet.

It gave him a one-stroke lead over compatriot Jim Furyk, who had a flawless round which included seven birdies.

Scoring was not so easy for some of the other big names in the field, with world number five Ernie Els managing only a level-par round of 71 - which included an eagle-three at the 502-yard second - while defending champion Peter Lonard had two birdies and two bogeys in registering the same score.

Ireland's Graeme McDowell carded a one-under-par round of 70 while compatriot Paul McGinley went around in level par. Darren Clarke is two over through 13 holes having mixed a pair of birdies with four bogeys. PA