Seamus Power well placed after opening round at the John Deere

Seamus Power is four shots off the lead held by Sweden's Jonas Blixt after the opening round of the John Deere Classic in Illinois.

Power carded a 66 for a five-under-par finish and is in a tie for fourth. He started on the back nine, where he picked up six birdies as he went out in 30. It was more steady on the way home, with a bogey at the last following eight straight pars.

Blixt, on the other hand, hit the accelerator on the back nine as he opened a two-shot lead.

The Swede, who missed the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour last week and only had conditional status on the PGA Tour, fired five birdies and an eagle in his final eight holes.

The world number 842, who has won three times on tour but not since 2017, finished with a nine-under-par 62 to lead by two from American Grayson Murray, who bogeyed the last having reached eight under after 13 holes.

Blixt said afterwards: "Golf is weird. Like, tomorrow I can shoot 100 I feel like, but today was a great day."

Cameron Young, the highest-ranked player in the field at 19, also bogeyed the last to fall back into a share of third with a 65.

LEADERBOARD