O'Hern sizzles in Scottsdale heat

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD (US unless stated):
-7 N O'Hern (Aus) -6 B Heintz (US), H Slocum (US) -5 DA Points (US), R Sabbatini (SA), G Owen (Eng), R Fowler (US)
Selected others: -3 M Laird (Sco), F Couples (US) Level B Davis (Eng), D Duval (US)

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O'Hern's best finish was runner-up in the 2006 Booz Allen Classic

Australian Nick O'Hern sizzled with his putter in a seven-under 63 to lead the Frys.com Open by two strokes after the first round in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The left-hander hit eight birdies, including six in a row from the 10th, and took nine putts in a back-nine 28.

"Pretty scary," he said. "I've never done that before. I was pretty happy."

Bob Heintz and Heath Slocum were a shot adrift with England's Greg Owen in a group two back and Scotland's Martin Laird, last week's winner, four behind.

Americans DA Points and Ricky Fowler and South African Rory Sabbatini ended alongside Owen on five under.

On a still, 28C (82F) day on Grayhawk Golf Club's desert Raptor Course, American Paul Goydos, who shot 66, said it was "like playing indoors".

"The weather is too good. I would expect you're going to see a pretty bunched leaderboard all week," he added.

O'Hern, known by golf fans as the "Tiger Slayer", was the first player to beat Tiger Woods twice in match play as a professional. He defeated the world number one in the Accenture Match Play Championship in 2005 and in 2007.

"I never get sick of it (the nickname)," said the 38-year-old O'Hern.

"A lot of people don't know my name but say: 'Hey, that's the guy that beat Tiger twice.' It's really nice."

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The Australian reached the turn at level par but then fired eight birdies in nine holes, a run only marred by a bogey at the short 16th after finding water.

His longest putts were a 48-footer on the par-four 12th and a 20-footer on the par-four 17th.

O'Hern has never won a US PGA Tour event, and he missed the cut in nine of his first 25 tournaments this year.

"I'm really looking for that first win over here," he said. "If I keep hitting the ball as well as I am at the moment, I'm going to give myself lots of looks at birdies, and that's the key."

Fred Couples, who captained the United States to victory in the Presidents Cup earlier this month, shot a 67 in his first Tour round in seven weeks.