The bunched leaderboard at the AT&T National suggests two things: the best players in the world are largely on their games and that there may be more fireworks on the course than off of it this Indepdence Day weekend.

Anthony Kim kicked off the festivities early yesterday by shooting a course record 62 at Congressional.  As defending champion, Kim is clearly comfortable at this golf course - perhaps a sign of good fortune for the US Open in two years' time.  It may be an ever better sign for the present.  Kim has not registered a top ten finish since the season opening Mercedes Benz Championship.  He did finish T16 at the US Open and T11 last weekend in Hartford.  His game is showing signs of good form.

Tiger Woods responded in kind to his friend's great round.  Woods fired a very solid 64 in which he may have had his best putting display of the 2009 season.  Inside of 15 feet, Woods was nearly automatic.  His driving was good enough to put him into position to attack a fairly soft Congressional course.

Some lesser known players scored very well on day one, as well.  Bryce Molder and DA Points were both in with 64 yesterday.  Molder is continuing to build off of his runner-up finish at the St. Jude Classic, where Brian Gay went wire to wire.  Points' season has been up and down with back-to-back top 10 finishes in the Florida swing, but has six missed cuts in 17 starts.  He is begging for consistency.

Paul Casey's first appearance at the AT&T National was very much anticipated given how he has played around the globe this season.  An opening 75, though, may dash his chances of impressing the crowd in the nation's capital.