Scott sets target in Texas

Australian Adam Scott, third in last week’s Wachovia Championship, set the target for the rest of the field when the Byron Nelson Championship began in Irving, Texas, today.

The world number nine had seven birdies in a five-under-par 65 to take the clubhouse lead away from compatriot Nathan Green and American Dean Wilson, who shot 67.

Britain’s Luke Donald, one place behind Scott in the world rankings, opened with a 69 a week after missing last week’s event complaining of back pains.

Donald came back from an early bogey with three birdies to turn in 33, but his only deviation from par on the inward half was a bogey at the 456-yard 12th on the TPC course, one of two used for the event.

Last week’s winner Jim Furyk and world number four Vijay Singh both needed strong finishes for level par 70s at Cottonwood Valley.

Furyk birdied the last two holes, while Singh, four days after shooting a closing 81 at Quail Hollow, hit back from double-bogeying the first and bogeying the second with three birdies in the last eight.

Londoner Brian Davis, who this week last year was in a play-off for the British Masters, and Ernie Els were also level par with three and eight to play respectively, while Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia were one over and Greg Owen a disappointing four over.