Bill Haas leads at Quail Hollow

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 5 (UPI) -- Bill Haas, whose first two PGA Tour victories came during the 2010 season, shot an 8-under 64 Thursday that gave him the lead at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Former PGA Championship winner David Toms and Jonathan Byrd shared second place at 66. Byrd won the first tournament of the year in Hawaii and has missed the cut four times in nine events since then.

Lucas Glover, winner of the 2009 U.S. Open, and Pat Perez were tied for fourth at 67.

Phil Mickelson birdied four holes in a row at the Quail Hollow Country Club beginning at the par-4 eighth and shot a 69 that was good enough for a share of 11th place.

Bubba Watson, coming off a win last week in New Orleans, settled for an even-par 72. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, playing in the United States for the first time since his fourth-round meltdown cost him a major title at the Masters, struggled to a 75.

Haas, son of former PGA Tour player Jay Haas, did not make a bogey on a course that is considered one of the best on the circuit. A native of Charlotte, Haas said he played Quail Hollow often while growing up.

"I always tell people I think I'm biased a little bit, but it's probably our best event outside of a major," Haas said. He won last year's Bob Hope Classic and Viking Classic and lost in a playoff this year while trying to defend his Hope title.