CROMWELL, Conn. — Johnson Wagner says he could shoot a 61 while playing the TPC River Highlands on his old Sega Genesis video game as a kid.

The actual course didn't give Wagner much more of a challenge yesterday in the Travelers Championship when he shot a 6-under-par 64 to match Steve Lowery, Brad Adamonis and Englishman Brian Davis for the first-round lead.

With temperatures hovering in the low 70s and soft greens from rain Wednesday night, conditions set up nicely for the field. Seven players were a shot back at 65, and another 16 shot 66s. Of the 156 players, 104 shot under par.

"We had no wind and it was just kind of there for the taking today with it being so soft," Wagner said. "But get a little wind and get this place firm and it's all you can ask for, so I'm happy to get a good round when I needed to."

Wagner, who is looking for his second career victory after winning in Houston earlier this season, eagled the 296-yard 15th after hitting his approach shot within 18 inches of the pin.

Lowery also won this year, at Pebble Beach in February. He was playing his first golf in almost two weeks. Lowery decided to skip this year's qualifying for the U.S. Open because he felt fatigued.

He sat at home and played with the kids and watched the Open on TV. He practiced a bit, but said he didn't play a single round of golf.

"Regardless of the golf courses, when I'm tired I don't do as well, and when I'm rested I tend to play better," he said. "Hopefully, I'll stay rested this week."

Only three of the top 10 players on tour — Stewart Cink, Vijay Singh and Kenny Perry — are playing in this tournament.

ELSEWHERE

BMW International Open: Australia's Peter O'Malley shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 for a share of the lead at Munich, Germany, while John Daly struggled to an even-par 72 in a round that included five wild holes on the back nine. O'Malley shared the top spot with South Africa's Anton Haig, Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Argentina's Rafa Echenique. Daly, the 2001 winner, had two double bogeys, a bogey and two birdies on Nos. 13-17.

PGA Professional National Championship: Paul Dietsche shot a 6-under 66 on the Reynolds Landing course yesterday to take a one-stroke lead over Scott Hebert after the first round at Lake Oconee, Ga. Dietsche, the head pro at Arrowhead Country Club in San Bernardino, Calif., had nine birdies and a triple bogey on the par-4 15th.