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Miami - Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker got off to a rousing start at the Franklin Templeton Shootout, firing an opening round 16-under 56 for a one-stroke lead in Naples, Florida, on Thursday.
The former winners of the event have a slight lead over fellow Americans Harris English and Matt Kuchar at the Tiburon Golf Club course.
Kelly and Stricker combined to shoot one eagle, 14 birdies and three pars in the first round scramble format as they finished just one stroke shy of matching the event's 18 hole scoring record which has been set four times.
The teams will play modified alternate shot on Friday and close with better ball on Saturday.
Kelly and Stricker are playing together for the record eighth time. They won in 2009, and Kelly also won with Rod Pampling ten years ago.
Harris and Rio Olympics bronze medallist Kuchar won in their first start together in 2013 and were runners up the last two years.
Charles Howell and South African Rory Sabbatini were third at 59, and defending champions Brandt Snedeker and Jason Dufner shot a 60 with Kevin Chappell-Kevin Kisner and England's Luke Donald-Russell Knox of Scotland.
Lexi Thompson, a seven time winner on the LPGA Tour, became just the second woman to compete in the event after Annika Sorenstam in 2006.
The 21-year-old Thompson played brilliantly, finishing with an eagle on No. 18. She and her playing partner Bryson DeChambeau, 22, were in eighth after a 62.
