The Offaly man is eight shots off the top.
Shane Lowry has plenty of work to do if he's to compete at this weekend's Cadillac Championships in Miami.
The Clara man shot a level par round of 72 yesterday, mixing four bogeys with four birdies.
Cameron Young will be the short price favourite to come away with the title after round one.
The Players Championship winner shot an eight under par, 64 to secure a one shot lead ahead of Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley.
Lowry returns to course at 4.20pm.
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