Brandt Snedeker collected seven straight birdies en route to an eight-under-par 63 in the first round of the USPGA Tour BMW Championship yesterday to establish a one-shot lead over fellow American Zach Johnson.

World number one Rory McIlroy was among a quartet of players atop the leaderboard after continuing his sparkling form with an eight-under-par 64 in the first round of the USPGA Tour BMW Championship at Crooked Stick in Carmel.