Golf-McNeill in early tie for lead at blustery PGA National

Feb 25 (Reuters) - American George McNeill relied on a red-hot putter in blustery conditions as he moved into a share of the early lead in the opening round of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida on Thursday. A double winner on the PGA Tour who has missed the cut in each of his five starts this season, McNeill made a welcome return to form by firing a three-under-par 67 on the challenging PGA National layout. The 40-year-old, whose most recent victory came at the 2012 Puerto Rico Open, mixed six birdies with a lone bogey and a double at the par-four 11th to end the round level with Irishman Shane Lowry and Swede David Lingmerth. Former PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner opened with a 68 while five-times major champion Phil Mickelson was one of six players who carded a 69 as winds gusted up to 30 mph (48 kph). "It's a good start to the tournament," left-hander Mickelson told reporters after a round that included four birdies on his front nine and two bogeys after the turn. "I got off to a great start with a birdie on my first hole and played fairly solid golf throughout. I let a couple slide on the back (nine) but I can't wait to get back out there and play again tomorrow." McNeill moved into a three-way tie at the top after twice saving par with 10-foot putts on his outward nine, and producing another impressive par-save from 18 feet at the short 15th. "It just seemed like when I got on the green I made it, or if I didn't make it, it was close to going in," said McNeill. "I don't know how many one-putts I had, but it felt like quite a few." Northern Ireland's world number three Rory McIlroy and fifth-ranked American Rickie Fowler, who head a strong field at PGA National, were among the late starters on Thursday. (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)