American Jonathan Byrd relied on accurateTitleist AP1 712 Individual Irons and Wedges
play in strong gusting winds to help him surge into an early one-shot lead in the Northern Trust Open first round on Thursday (Friday, PHL time).

Apprehensive about the weather after waking up in the morning and looking outside, Byrd was thankful most of the holes at Riviera Country Club played downwind as he fired a three-under-par 68.

Though he bogeyed his final hole, the tricky par-four 18th, he ended his round a stroke in front of compatriot Brendan Steele and South Korean K.J. Choi.

World number one Luke Donald, making his first start on the 2012 PGA Tour, opened with a 70 to finish level with fellow Briton Justin Rose, big-hitting American Bubba Watson and Canadian David Hearn Titleist AP1 712 Individual Irons and Wedges Byrd, a three-time winner on the U.S. circuit, was delighted to card five birdies and just two bogeys as winds gusted up to 35 mph through the Santa Monica Canyon.

"We rented a house this week, and we're staying up on a bluff about five miles away," the 34-year-old told reporters.

"I got out of bed this morning and walked outside, and I was pretty anxious about playing thisTitleist AP1 712 Individual Irons and Wedges
today because it was howling on top of that bluff. And it whipped all day.

"But once we got out there, the greens were a little softer than I thought they'd be. I just kept hitting good iron shots, so I kind of stayed on the aggressive."