Veteran Hisayuki Sasaki hit the top of the leaderboard for the first time in two years after shooting a 6-under-par 66 on Thursday in the first round of the Bridgestone Open.
Former money-rankings winner Shingo Katayama carded an identical six-birdie, no-bogey round to join Sasaki in a three-way tie for the lead along with Australian Scott Laycock.
This year's money-rankings leader Toru Taniguchi is one of four golfers one shot back after a 67. Former British Open winner Justin Leonard shot a 71.