DORAL, Fla., March 8 (UPI) -- Adam Scott and Jason Dufner both shot a 6-under 66 in windy conditions Thursday to share the lead after one round of the WGC Cadillac Championship.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson found themselves six shots off the pace and Rory McIlroy, playing the first tournament of his career as the world's No. 1 ranked player, was seven shots back.
The gusting winds intensified as the afternoon wore on at the TPC-Doral course, but Scott and Dufner survived to move in front by two shots. Both players carded only one bogey.
The most recent of Scott's eight PGA Tour victories came at last year's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Dufner's tour highlight came last August when he lost in a playoff to Keegan Bradley at the PGA Championship after seemingly having the tournament wrapped up late in the fourth round.
Thomas Bjorn and current Masters champion Charl Schwartzel shared third place at 68 while those at 69 included Bradley, Justin Rose, Steve Stricker and FedEx Cup points leader Kyle Stanley.
Bubba Watson and Luke Donald, who was replaced as the world No. 1 by McIlroy this week, were among those who shot 70.
Woods eagled the opening hole, but struggled finding the proper distance on a series of long putts and finished with a 72. Mickelson shot the same score with a double bogey and two bogeys on his card.
McIlroy, the winner last week at the Honda Classic after finishing as the runner-up the week before at the WGC match play event in Arizona, had four bogeys his round of 73.
