Late birdie show helps Furyk to Barclays Classic lead

Jim Furyk birdied five of his final nine holes to finish at six-under-par 65 and hold a three-shot lead after the first round of the Barclays Classic in New York.

Furyk, the 2003 US Open winner, bogeyed the ninth hole to go out in 35 but birdied the 10th and 11th to start his run at the Westchester Country Club.

He completed the day with birdies on the 17th and 18th for a back-nine 30 which saw him three strokes clear of Vijay Singh, John Rollins, Brian Bateman, Kenny Perry, Canada’s Ian Leggatt and Hidemichi Tanaka of Japan.

Sergio Garcia, the defending champion, started well with three birdies in his first six holes but finished with four consecutive bogeys to post a one-over 72.