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The 41-year-old American, who won the prestigious PGA Tour
event at Colonial Country Club in 2013, piled up three birdies
on each nine to fire a flawless six-under-par 64 on a course
softened by heavy rain overnight.
Weekley, a three-times champion on the highly competitive U.S.
circuit, signed off by sinking a 13-foot birdie putt on his
final hole, the par-four ninth, to finish level with compatriots
Jordan Spieth, Kevin Na and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa.
Masters champion Spieth, the world number two and local
favorite, sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-four 18th late
in the day in front of huge galleries to beat the fading light
and make it a four-way tie at the top.
American George McNeill and Englishman Ian Poulter opened with
65s while New Zealander Danny Lee, Canada's David Hearn and
Americans Ben Martin and Charley Hoffman were among a group of
nine players on 66.
Weekley, whose best finish this season was a tie for second at
the Sanderson Farms Championship in November, totaled only 27
putts as he surged into early contention after the start of play
was delayed by three hours due to the threat of lightning.
"It was good," Weekley, who was in an upbeat mood despite being
troubled by a stiff back, told PGA Tour Radio. "I've got good
memories here, you know.
"I played well today and made a lot of good putts. We read the
greens good today, me and my caddie. We had fun."
Na, whose only PGA Tour victory came at the 2011 Justin
Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, birdied four of
his last eight holes to set the early pace before being joined
at the top by Weekley, Ishikawa and Spieth.
"It was a good day," said the 31-year-old American who was born
in South Korea before moving to the U.S. as a child.
"I made a lot of good putts out there. I made a couple of
difficult par putts that kept my round going.
"The greens are really good. They are rolling great. Right now,
the rough is wet and thick and it's hard to get enough distance
out of the rough. The key is to hit the fairway."
Australian Adam Scott, who clinched last year's Crowne Plaza
Invitational in a playoff with Jason Dufner, launched his title
defense with a 72.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by
Greg Stutchbury)
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