Green, Connell lead Honda

Australian rises to the challenge alongside Harrington and Singh

Green: Joint leader

First round leaderboard
US unless stated
-5 N Green (Aus)
-5 M Connell
-4 A Rocha (Brz)
-4 O Wilson
-4 C Villegas (Col)
-3 DJ Trahan
-3 V Singh (Fij)
-3 B Watson

Nathan Green was inspired by his illustrious company as he took a share of the lead at the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Australian Green was paired alongside former major winners Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh - and he responded to the challenge by carding a five-under round of 65.

That error-free round saw him move into a share of the lead with American Michael Connell after the opening day.

And Green admitted that having Harrington and Singh in his group had helped him raise his game.

"You don't like embarrassing yourself in front of a crowd," Green said.

"It can also help you, and I think that's sort of what it did today, playing with those guys.

Bogey-free

"You definitely feed off them a little bit I think, just how calm they keep themselves."

Green and Connell hold a one-shot lead over England's Oliver Wilson, who also carded a bogey-free round, Colombian Camilo Villegas and Brazil's Alexandre Rocha.

Singh was a shot further back on three under alongside Bubba Watson and DJ Trahan, with Graeme McDowell and Germany's Alex Cejka both on two under.

European number one Lee Westwood was a shot further back, while fellow Englishman Justin Rose finished on level par.

Harrington and Rory McIlroy were six shots off the lead after one-over rounds of 71, while Paul Casey's round fell away in disastrous fashion.

Casey had been on three under after a birdie at the first and an eagle at the long third - however four bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine meant that he finished on three over.