Darren Clarke holds the opening round lead at the Regions Tradition championship on the Champions Tour.
Clarke shot a near flawless six-under-par 66 to hold a one shot lead over Stephen Ames and Jerry Kelly in Birmingham, Alabama.
Starting his round on the back nine, Clarke's pinpoint approach on the par three 10th set up an opening birdie before another followed on the 11th hole.
Clarke, one of the biggest hitters on the tour, failed to birdie either the par five 13th or 15th, but he then reeled off three birdies in succession to close out first nine in 31 strokes.
The 2011 Open champion then found the par five 2nd hole in two shots to set up another birdie and go to six under for his round.
He was seven-under-par after a birdie on the par three seventh, but he gave that shot back on his penultimate hole of the day.
A 66 puts Clarke in pole position in the major championship on the over 50s tour, with four rounds to be played.
The Dungannon man, 52, is looking for his third win on the tour in just five events.
