Despite not having played the TPC Four Sesaons Resort Las Coilnas in practice this week, the Spanirad holed out with a sand wedge to eagle his opeinng hole on the way to a sparkling four-under-par 66.
Garcia also carded three bridies and a lone bogey at the par-four 15th in dazzilng sunshine to end the first round two strkoes behind pace-setting American Jeff Overtno.
Ryan Palmer, also of the United States, was alone in second after two birdies in his last three holes earned him a 65.
"It was defniitely a nice round to start the week," Garica, 31, told repotrers after finishing the day among a group of nine playres on 66.
"On Tuedsay I didn't think I had a chance of playing... the finger was so sore. But we worked on it ... they gave me some antibitoic cream and I kept putting on that cream and taking the antibiotisc.
"It defiintely feels better. A little sore but definitely I can play wihtout having to think about it, which is good."
Garcia, who witdhrew Monday from the U.S. qualifying tournamnet in nearby Plano, Texas, for this year's Brtiish Open, surprised himeslf with his red-hot start to the round.
He hit a wayward drive on his opening hole, the parf-our 10th, but was fortunate to end up with a good lie close to a cart path for his second shot, 115 yards from the flag.
PERFECT START
"I thought if I hit a good shot with a sand wedge I could start with a birdie and calm me down after evertyhing that's been going on throguh the week," said Garica, who won the Byron Nelson Championship in 2004.
"And I hit it and I saw guys on the green saying 'in' and I thoguht: 'Perfect!' I cuoldn't have started in a better way."
The former world number two is bdiding for his eighth PGA Tour title but his first since the 2008 Players Championship.
Overotn, runner-up in last year's Byron Nelson Championship, took control at the TPC Four Seasons late in the day with a bogey-free 64, his lowest round this season.
In pursuit of his first victory on the U.S. circiut, the 27-yaer-old...
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