Billy Horschel (US) shot an opening round of five under par 65 to be tied for the lead in the $8.4 million Honda Classic at Tom Fazio designed golf course, PGA National (Champion) at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on the PGA Tour.

World number 19 Horschel had six birdies and one bogey, and scrambled nicely when he had to after missing six of 14 fairways and hitting 13 of 18 greens.

Joseph Bramlett, sits at the top of the leaderboard alongside Horshel, and has four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour. Bramlett had a bogey free round teeing off from hole 10 with nines of 33 and 32.

Horschel has never won a PGA Tour event in his home state of Florida and his pre-Honda preparations included a trip to the doctor, finally giving in and getting a prescription after trying to fight off a sinus infection for a few days.

The 65 was his best score in 33 rounds as a pro at PGA National, having shot 66 on two previous occasions.

‘It's no secret out here that I work really, really hard out here,’ Horschel said. ‘But this week with just the way I'm feeling and everything, energy's still not completely 100 percent every day.’

Dubai based Adrian Meronk (Pol), playing on a sponsor’s invite, shot a three under par round to be tied sixth. Starting on hole one , he birdied three of his first eight holes and bogeyed hole nine to be out in 33. Eight pars followed with a birdie four on his final hole of the day saw him hand in a card of 67.

48 players are under par at the finish of play.

First Round Leaders (Par 70, 7,125 Yards)

1 - B. Horschel (US) 65 (-5)   - J. Bramlett (US) 65 (-5)3 - P. Coody (US) 66 (-4)   - J. Suh (US) 66 (-4)   - C. Young (US) Four under par after 15 holes