• Transitions Championship, Day One

Fisher in contention at Transitions Championship

Ian Poulter struggled on day one © Getty Images

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• News: Harrington the halfway leader in Florida
  
• Profile: Luke Donald | Sergio Garcia | Padraig Harrington | Ian Poulter | Justin Rose

England's Ross Fisher is in a tie for eighth and in touch with the leader at the Transitions Championship after mastering the windy conditions to shoot a three-under 68.

The opening round in Florida proved difficult for most players, but not American Garrett Willis, who defied the blustery conditions to card a seven-birdie 65 - equalling his lowest round of the year - and claim the outright lead. "I was fortunate enough to get off early before the wind really started kicking up," Willis said. "I wouldn't want to be making the turn [later in the day] because the wind is very difficult out there."

Fisher was one of the last on course, but he managed to remain bogey-free until the 17th. He sits just behind a chasing pack of six who are two shots off Willis' early pace, with that bunch including Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk and Rickie Fowler.

Goosen, who carded four birdies, said the course represented one of the Tour's sternest tests. "It's a hard course," he said. "You've got to play well. I won't say I'm playing very well, but to my eye it sets up very good and I tend to see the shots around here pretty good."

Padraig Harrington managed ten pars in a row before his round exploded into life with an eagle at the 11th and a birdie at the 12th, before bogeys at Nos. 14 and 17 and further birdie at No. 18 left him at two-under and well within range of an upward charge towards the lead.

Scot Martin Laird was also one of 41 players under par on day one after his 70, while Ian Poulter shot a disappointing two-over 73.

The world No. 6, whose early tee-off meant he avoided the worst of the conditions, did not pick up a birdie until the 11th as he suffered with continually wayward approach play. Poulter, winner at the Accenture World Match Play Championship, hit only half of his greens in a four-bogey round.

Englishmen Luke Donald and Brian Davis both endured up-and-down rounds to finish at even par.

Sergio Garcia, normally so adept with his irons, struggled to put himself within puttable distance as he carded a five-bogey 73. The Spaniard, who is yet to finish in the top 25 of a stroke play event in 2010, looks unlikely to improve on his disappointing recent form.

Justin Rose, who looked somewhere near his best when securing a third-placed finish at the Honda Classic, was unable to carry that momentum forward as he too finished two-over. Although he started his round with a birdie, Rose dropped five shots between holes five and 12, only salvaging the round with birdies at 16 and 17.

World No. 2 Steve Stricker was in good shape off the tee, but hit less than half of his greens as the wind played havoc with his approach play during his one-under round.

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