Only Jesper Parnevik's unusual style of dress remained the same heading into this week's Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic.

So far, the changes are paying off.

Parnevik, sporting his trademark baseball cap with the upturned bill, a black shirt and bright red pants, fired a 7-under-par 65 today to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the tournament at the Forest Oaks Country Club.

Parnevik recorded six birdies and an eagle with a new putter, a new set of irons and a new caddy, part-time touring pro Lance Ten Broeck, one of his close friends. He fired his longtime caddy, Lorne Duncan, after he was disqualified in last week's MCI Classic.

Parnevik said rumors that he and Duncan had a bitter disagreement in the aftermath of the disqualification are untrue.

"This was a long run for us. Sometimes, even though you're very good friends with someone, it's better to just part," Parnevik said. "You're always looking for a change."

Parnevik missed a short birdie putt on the first hole but rolled in a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 second. He sank another long birdie putt at the seventh hole and shorter ones at Nos. 8-9 to make the turn one shot off the lead.

"Five-under on the front nine was not really something I expected," Parnevik said. "With the wind kicking up and the rough as high as it was and the greens as firm as they are, I thought all the scores would be high in the afternoon. But it seems like everybody played well."

Parnevik missed a short par putt at No. 11 but regrouped with birdies at 14 and 15. He capped his round with a 13-foot birdie putt from the back fringe on the 18th hole with a blade putter he's been using for less than two weeks.

"It's hard to accept when you miss a putt, so you're looking for a magic wand that might turn your career around and work every time," Parnevik said.

Dudley Hart and Steve Lowery were one shot back after first-round 66s.

Hart teed off in the morning and said the key to his round was staying clear of Forest Oaks' notoriously snarly rough. He drove into the rough on Nos. 2 and 5 but avoided it the rest of the day, notching five birdies over the final 13 holes.

"Any time you get off to a good start the first day, it can set you up for a good week," Hart said. "But obviously, it doesn't guarantee you anything."

Robin Freeman and Jim Furyk were two off the lead with 67s. Freeman tallied seven birdies after a double bogey on the first hole.

Sunny skies and warm temperatures turned Forest Oaks hard and fast, a stark change from previous years when heavy rain softened the fairways and greens.

"I've never seen this golf course play short like this," said Fred Funk, who was one of five players at 68. "It's usually pretty wet but this year, it's really dry and the balls are running."

Divots: Parnevik played with defending champion Trevor Dodds, who shot a 71 on Thursday. ... Hart wore a baseball cap during his round Thursday to cover a handful of staple-sized scars left on his forehead from a recent bout with shingles. ... Hart and Funk were among a large group of players planning to attend Thursday night's NHL playoff game between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes at nearby Greensboro Coliseum. ... Furyk recently hired Mike "Fluff" Cowan, Tiger Woods' former caddy. But Cowan had previously planned a vacation to Scotland this week and Furyk enlisted Jeff Manson, an old college friend at the University of Arizona, to carry his bag this week