* Furyk fires a superb 63 to lead by two shots
* World number one Donald opens with a 66
* Woods trails by seven after shooting 70
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By Mark Lamport-Stokes
AKRON, Ohio, Aug 2 (Reuters) – Experienced American Jim
Furyk outshone the biggest names in the game as he took control
of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational with a dazzling
seven-under-par 63 in Thursday’s opening round.
On a firm and fast-running layout at Firestone Country Club,
Furyk piled up seven birdies, an eagle at the par-five second
and two bogeys to end a sun-splashed day two ahead of Britain’s
Lee Slattery.
World number one Luke Donald was a further stroke back on
66, level with fellow Englishman Simon Dyson, Americans Ben
Crane and Masters champion Bubba Watson, Australia’s John Senden
and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera Bello.
Second-ranked Tiger Woods, bidding for a record eighth
Bridgestone Invitational title, made a solid start but bogeyed
three of his last six holes for a 70 to finish seven shots off
the pace.
Furyk, who clinched the most recent of his 16 PGA Tour
victories at the 2010 Tour Championship, has always relished
playing at Firestone and he made the most of the fast-running
conditions on Thursday when there was hardly a breath of wind.
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