Funk in the groove in Mexico

Fred Funk vindicated his decision to take part in the Mayakoba Golf Classic after carding a brilliant eight-under-par 62 to open up a two-shot lead after the first round at the Riviera Maya-Cancun course in Mexico.

Graeme McDowell is three-under after carding a 67.

With the world’s top-64 golfers currently battling it out at the Accenture World Match Play, Funk was torn between playing the Ace Group Classic on the Champions Tour and the first PGA event in Mexico.

After shooting eight birdies to head a group of four players in the 3.5million event, it looks like he made the right choice.

“It was a really solid putting round,” he said.

“I kept the ball in play really well. I hit some really nice irons and I actually played some of the difficult holes really well today, which was obviously one reason I went so low.”