James Nitties carded a six-under-par 65 to claim a share of the lead with Lucas Glover after the first round of the FBR Open.
Duo lead the way in Arizona
Australian James Nitties carded a six-under-par 65 to claim a share of the lead with American Lucas Glover before darkness brought a premature end to the first round of the FBR Open.
After failing to make the cut in the first two events of 2009, the PGA Tour rookie bounced back with an inspired round in Arizona.
The 26-year-old reeled off four consecutive birdies from the third hole, and despite bogeying the seventh - his only dropped shot of the round - he played a solid back nine before birdies at the 17th and 18th gave him the clubhouse lead.
Nitties, who came through Q-school in December, said: "I hit it pretty solidly, obviously. I putted well today, I fixed a little bit of my putting issues last week.
"I didn't really get into too much trouble all day and if I did, I'd sort of make the smart decision and it worked together well."
Penalty
Glover, who claimed a 19th-place finish at the Bob Hope Classic last week, was level-par after the front nine, however seven birdies and a solitary bogey saw him clinch a share of the lead after the first day.
David Berganio Jnr and newly-wed Charley Hoffman are one shot off the lead after firing impressive rounds of 66.
But Phil Mickelson's 2009 debut got off to a poor start as the local favourite posted a five-over 76.
"Well, it really wasn't what I was hoping for," Mickelson said. "I guess that's a good way to say it. I had three penalty shots. That hurts.
Momentum
"But it didn't feel that far off. I felt like I hit the ball pretty solid. I was hitting it hard. I had some good speed. I just didn't have it obviously going very straight."
JB Holmes, attempting to win this event for a third consecutive year, started his round in excellent fashion.
Following a birdie on the 11th and a bogey on the par-three 12th hole, Holmes birdied five straight holes to climb the leaderboard.
However Holmes, who overcame Mickelson in a play-off last year, lost all momentum on the front nine, registering four bogeys without a birdie to card a one-under 70.
Nine players will conclude their rounds before second-round play begins.
