Scott Hot at Bay Hill

With Tiger Woods sidelined this week because of ongoing back spasms, No. 2-ranked Adam Scott got off to a rousing start Thursday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in his effort to unseat the current leader in the world golf rankings.

The 33-year-old Aussie posted seven birdies, two eagles and a lone bogey for a 10-under 62 to take the opening-round lead in the $6.2 million PGA Tour event at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando.

In matching the course record set by Andy Bean in 1981 and Greg Norman in 1984, Scott forged a three-stroke lead over Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and American John Merrick.

Scott was aided by canning five putts 20 feet or longer, including the two eagles. "I made a lot of putts today, and a lot of putts from considerable length," the 2013 Masters champion told reporters. "I hit a lot of nice shots, too, but it wasn't like I was hitting it four feet. I had a round like this in Australia at the end of last year - in the first six holes, I didn't hit it outside five feet.

"There's a lot of different ways to get the ball in the hole. But it's good for the confidence. It's what I wanted. I sat in here yesterday and said I'd like to make some birdies and build the confidence. And today is a good start to that."

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano carded his best round of the year, a 6-under 66, and was in fourth, while another stroke back on a day with perfect scoring conditions were Americans, Brandt Snedeker, Morgan Hoffman and Jason Kokrak along with England's Paul Casey, Italy's Francesco Molinari and Welshman Jamie Donaldson.

Snedeker later joked that he was hoping the ban on anchored putters - which won't happen until 2015 and which Scott uses so effectively - could occur sooner. "Can we ban that putter the rest of the week?" the Nashville native quipped.

"He's playing unbelievable. He's one of the best players in the world right now. I don't think 10-under is doable for me."

Scott's playing partner in the first and second rounds, 2013 Justin Rose of England, was similarly impressed with the tour de force performance. "Awesome round," said Rose, who opened with a 71. "He putted like a Masters champion."

Also awed by Scott's play was the tournament host. "He shot it up," Palmer said during the TV broadcast. "He's been playing so well and it's just a question of time until he really starts hitting it [like this] every week. He sure played good in getting ready for the Masters."

The third player in Scott's group was Patrick Reed, a three-time winner in just his first 14 starts on the PGA Tour. The 23-year-old Texan carded a 69.

Scott knows there's a long way to go, but is happy with how he got out of the gate. "Hopefully, with a solid round tomorrow I keep myself right in this golf tournament," he said. "Like at any event, you want to start and put yourself right in it from the get-go and I've done that here."

Australia's John Senden, who won last week's Valspar Championship Sunday at Innisbrook Resort, opened with an even-par 72.

Because of his withdrawal, eight-time Bay Hill champion Woods won't be able to secure his third straight title in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.

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