Leonard, 2 others share lead

ATLANTA — Former champion Justin Leonard made the most of ideal conditions and a relaxed frame of mind to charge into a share of the lead in the Heritage Classic in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on Thursday.

Four days after battling gusting winds to tie for 20th in the US Masters, Leonard fired a sparkling five-under-par 66 to set the first-round pace with fellow Americans Lucas Glover and five-time winner Davis Love III.

American Stewart Cink, the 2004 champion, was a further stroke adrift along with nine others, including compatriots Anthony Kim, John Rollins and Charles Howell III, plus Colombia’s Camilo Villegas.

"It was a nice day, and wonderful weather-wise," Leonard, 35, said after hitting a five-iron to two feet at the last to set up his sixth birdie of the round on the picturesque Harbour Town Golf Links.

"It was great to play without a whole lot of wind after last week when you had to play so defensively. You come here and play a little more aggressively."

Asked to compare this week’s PGA Tour event with the opening major of the year at Augusta National, Leonard replied: "Last week was like final exams and this week is like spring break.

"You come here and it’s such a relaxed atmosphere. We go on bike rides and do a lot of fun stuff with the kids. Golf is almost secondary here."

Leonard, winner of the 2002 Heritage Classic, said his most significant hole of the round was the par-four 10th where he chipped in to save par.

"I hit a bad tee shot there, hooked it in the water," he said. "Then I hit a five-iron up toward the green and chipped it in for par. That was probably the biggest shot of the day."

Love was delighted to make a strong start at one of his favorite venues, having battled to regain form after an ankle injury last September.

"I’ve been putting myself behind the eight-ball usually the first nine holes or first day or first hole, it seems like every round," said the 44-year-old, who birdied the first two holes for an outward nine of four-under 32.

"So it’s nice to birdie the first two and get off to a good start, get a good round and get ahead of the eight-ball rather than behind it.

"I have worked extremely hard this year to get the mind going," added Love, who clinched the last of his five Heritage Classic titles in 2003. "If it’s not this week, it will be Charlotte. And if it’s not Charlotte, it will be the Players.

"I’m close and it’s got to pay off eventually. Keep sticking the tokens in the machine, eventually you’ll get it right."

Among the other big names, American world No. 9 Jim Furyk opened with a 68 and third-ranked South African Ernie Els battled to a 72.