Bruce Lietzke, a veritable fossil in a game increasingly dominated by youngsters, earned a share of the first-round lead at the $3 million Doral-Ryder Open in Miami yesterday.

"This is my third tournament in a row. I am about to pass out from exhaustion," quipped the 48-year-old Texan, famous for playing a sparse schedule.

Lietzke was joined at seven-under-par 65 by fellow Americans Harrison Frazar and Jim Furyk and Fiji's Vijay Singh on a day when the field averaged 71.2 strokes in benign conditions.

Lietzke, who rarely is seen in a bad mood, was even more jovial than usual after enjoying a hot day with the putter.

"I hit the ball good again today and made some putts," he said.

Lietzke rarely practices, visiting the range only to warm up before a round. His theory is that the less balls he hits, the less chance there is to mess up his swing.

Singh used a new putter to pick up seven birdies in the final 14 holes.

Perhaps he should have lent it to John Daly, who at various stages of his round used a putter, a wedge and a driver in an effort to find some touch on the greens.

None of the weapons appeared to do him any good, because he shot a 79 that left him last.

Erik Compton, a 20-year-old who received a heart transplant when he was 12, fared somewhat better with a 72.