• Byron Nelson Championship, Round One

Day and Durant on top in Texas

Dustin Johnson was one of the lucky ones to get through 18 holes on Thursday, recording a three-under 67 © Getty Images

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Jason Day and Joe Durant share the clubhouse lead after a rain-affected first day at the Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons resort in Texas.

Three other players also sit on four under par but have yet to complete their rounds. Steve Elkington and Hunter Mahan are two and three holes short of finishing their rounds, while Jarrod Lyle is in the midst of an impressive round after reaching that score after just 11 holes.

Durant charged from obscurity into the equal lead with an incredible five-under-par result from his last three holes. His eagles on the 7th and 8th turned around an otherwise inconsistent round and a birdie at the 9th, his last hole, put the icing on the cake before the foul weather set in.

Day, 22, hit some sensational iron shots in a round of 66 which took in six birdies and two bogeys. The Australian missed a short-birdie putt at the 8th, the penultimate hole of his round, and bogeyed the last after a sloppy tee shot but will be happy with an impressive first day.

Greg Owen was the best placed Briton at the conclusion of play with an even card through 12 holes. It was a fine day for the Australians, though, as the Aussie brigade made up five of the top ten and eight of the top 24 with scores as they stand.

Of those who finished their rounds, Dustin Johnson heads the chasing pack on three-under. The 2010 Bob Hope winner sprayed several drives wide of the fairway but produced a string of good up-and-downs to come home in 67 for three-under.

"I like this golf course," Johnson said. "It sets up well for me. You have to keep it on the fairway from the tee .Today I didn't get it on the fairway as much as I wanted but I kept it in play and never got in too much trouble. I missed close ones on nine and 10 but other than that I hit the ball good I just didn't get it real close to the holes. Early on today it was very difficult to get it close to the hole.

"My game is feeling good right now- and it is getting even better. It has got to the point where I am ready to get back in contention and play my best."

Defending champion Rory Sabbatini endured and up-and-down day but managed to get around in 68 to sit two shots off the lead. The South African struggled with the putter but managed to get close enough to the pin to sink three birdies before a late bogey spoiled his card.

2003 PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheels joins Sabbatini on two-under. The American, who also finished runner-up to Paul Casey at the 2006 HSBC Matchplay event at Wentworth, will feel he left shots out on the course though after scoring six birdies and four bogeys - two of which came from within six feet.

Eight-time PGA Tour title winner Brad Faxon showed glimpses of his class in his opening-round 69. The 49-year-old, who spreads his time between playing and working as a commentator, recorded his last win at the 2005 Buick Championship but was in with a shout of claiming the clubhouse lead when four birdies in his first 10 holes put him one behind Day at the top. A lack of practice would catch up with the former Ryder Cup player though and bogeys at 12, 17 and 18 dropped the American back to one-under.

Ryuji Imada missed several good chances of birdie in a somewhat frustrating level-par round of 70 but will be confident of making a move up the leaderboard after hitting some quality approach shots. The Japanese is joined by Vijay Singh and YE Yang on the same score.

PGA Tour rookie Rickie Fowler, who is currently 19th on the US Ryder Cup points list, will be hoping to make the cut and impress US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, who is also in the field. The 21-year-old, who joined his caddie Joe Skovron in wearing pink wristbands in honor of LGPA player Erica Blasberg, looked uncomfortable around the greens and sat at one-over with five holes of his round to play.

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