FORT WORTH, Texas, May 23, 2013 (AFP) - Palmer, a member at the host Colonial Country Club, used his knowledge to full advantage in the opening 18 holes of the $6.4 million event to edge Rollins for the lead.
"This golf course, I know where to hit it," Palmer said. "I hit driver all day. I was able to attack it and it paid off."
Canada's Graham DeLaet and David Hearn and Americans Morgan Hoffmann and John Peterson shared third on 64.
After starting on the 10th tee, Palmer charged to the top with a run of four birdies in a row from the par-4 14th through par-4 17th, then began his second nine with a birdie at the first hole.
Palmer closed strong with birdies on three of the last four holes.
"That was a lot of fun," Palmer said. "I just got into my round halfway through. My front nine I just hit some good shots close. I had a lot of six and seven footers for birdie."
Palmer finished fifth at Phoenix and shared fifth earlier this month at the Players Championship despite the death of a friend in an auto accident earlier that week in San Antonio, Texas.
Palmer seeks his fourth PGA title, his first since the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii. His other tour triumphs came in 2004 at Disney World and 2008 at the now-defunct Ginn sur Mer Classic.
Rollins opened with back-to-back birdies and added another at the par-4 sixth. He began the back side with two birdies as well before taking his lone bogey at the par-4 12th.
Rollins answered with birdies at the par-3 13th and par-4 15th and closed with another to stay within reach of Palmer as he chases his fourth PGA title after wins at the 2002 Canadian Open, 2006 B.C. Open and 2009 Reno-Tahoe Open.
Hoffman had a bogey-free round with birdies on the par-5 first and 11th and the par-3 eighth as well as 12, 14 and 17.
Hearn opened with a birdie and birdied four of the last five holes on the front nine. He answered a bogey at the 14th with a birdie at 15 and closed with another.
DeLaet birdied three of the first four holes, added back-to-back birdies at seven and eight and another at the 12th in a bogey-free round.
Peterson, who began off the 10th tee, took a bogey at 11 but birdied the next two holes, began his second nine with a birdie at the first, ran off three birdies in a row starting at the par-3 fourth and then closed with a birdie.
Leading scores on Thursday after the first round of the $6.4 million US PGA Crowne Plaza Invitational (USA unless noted, par 70):
62 - Ryan Palmer
63 - John Rollins
64 - Morgan Hoffmann, David Hearn (CAN), Graham DeLaet (CAN), John Peterson
65 - Daniel Summerhays, Matt Every, Matt Kuchar, Tommy Gainey, Josh Teater, Jordan Spieth
66 - Brendon de Jonge (ZIM), Carl Pettersson (SWE), Marc Leishman (AUS), John Huh, Jason Kokrak, Charley Hoffman, Ken Duke, Derek Ernst, Freddie Jacobson (SWE), Martin Flores
67 - Chris Stroud, Jeff Overton, DJ Trahan, Bud Cauley, Michael Thompson, Jason Dufner, Chris Kirk, Bryce Molder, Jonas Blixt (SWE), Bob Estes, Ben Kohles, Brian Stuard, Boo Weekley, Greg Chalmers (AUS), Brian Davis (ENG), Tim Clark (RSA), Roberto Castro