Cameron Young leads at Doral as Scottie Scheffler slips off early pace

The PGA Tour's return to the Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral in Miami for the first time since 2016 saw Cameron Young set the early pace with a flawless round built on precision putting and consistent ball-striking.

The American, a recent winner of The Players Championship, leads compatriots Jordan Spieth and Alex Smalley by a single stroke, with Canada's Nick Taylor a further shot back in fourth.

Colombia's Nico Echavarria sits alone in fifth at five under, while Americans Andrew Putnam, Brian Harman and Gary Woodland are one shot further adrift.

Young's round was underpinned by a red-hot putter, with 97 feet of putts holed - the fifth-highest tally of the day - as he ranked second overall in putting. He picked up eight birdies without a single blemish on his card.

"I feel like I made a billion feet of putts, which I think works most places," Young said. "It's just one of those days that each mistake I made I was not penalised as much as I could have been. And every time my ball got near the hole it seemed to want to go in today."

World number one Scottie Scheffler is seven shots off the pace after a back-nine stumble saw him sign for a 71.

"I would have liked to have been a little sharper today," Scheffler said. "Got off to a good start, but I kind of struggled from then on. Just overall hope to be a little sharper tomorrow."

England's Tommy Fleetwood opened with a two-under-par effort, while compatriot Alex Fitzpatrick - fresh from securing PGA Tour status by winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside his brother Matt - finished level par.

Ireland's Shane Lowry also sits at even par, while Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose struggled to a two-over 74 on debut with a new set of irons produced by McLaren.