Cameron Young put on a putting clinic Thursday at the PGA Cadillac Championship, carding a flawless eight-under 64 to seize a one-stroke lead after the first round. The world No. 4, riding momentum from his Players Championship win in March and a top-three finish at the Masters, looked every bit the elite competitor on a course that has hosted PGA Tour events for over six decades.

"I feel like I made a billion feet of putts," said Young, who needed just 23 putts en route to eight birdies and zero bogeys. "Every time my ball got near the hole it seemed to want to go in today."

Young's round was a masterclass in precision and feel. He ignited his charge at the par-4 second, sticking his approach inches from the cup for a tap-in birdie. A 41-foot bomb at the fourth had the gallery buzzing, and he followed with another short birdie at five. The highlight came at the seventh, where he drained a 28-foot putt from off the green. After adding birdies at 10 and 11, he rolled in another 25-footer from the fringe at 15, then seized the solo lead with a birdie at 16. A clutch six-foot par save at 17 preserved his advantage.

"I saw a few go in early, and it was just one of those days," Young added. "I had a really nice feel for the greens today."

Just one shot back at 65 are three-time major champion Jordan Spieth and fellow American Alex Smalley. Spieth's round was highlighted by a holed eagle at the eighth, and he raced to eight-under through 15 before a late bogey at 16. "It was a very nice start," said Spieth, who took advantage of calm morning conditions. "I don't foresee seven-unders every day, but I knocked a couple putts in from the fringe, which is a bonus."

Smalley, still seeking his first PGA Tour title, mixed eight birdies with a lone bogey, closing strong with birdies at 16 and 17 to join Spieth in second. Canadian Nick Taylor sits alone in fourth after a six-under 66.