Rickie Fowler makes flying start at Shell Houston Open to begin perfect preparations for the Masters

The American carded eight birdies to score a first-round 64 and lead Sung Kang by one shot

Rickie Fowler leads the Shell Houston Open after the first round (Getty)

World number nine Rickie Fowler warmed up for next week's Masters by claiming the lead after the first round of the Shell Houston Open.

Fowler, who opted to miss last week's WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, carded eight birdies in a flawless opening 64 to finish a shot ahead of Korea's Sung Kang, whose solitary bogey came when he three-putted the 18th.

Former Open champion Stewart Cink, Jhonattan Vegas and Kyle Stanley were a shot further back, with England's Justin Rose part of a group on five under which included fellow former major champion Keegan Bradley.

Fowler, finished in the top five in all four majors in 2014, but is yet to win one of golf's biggest championships and missed the cut at Augusta National last year after rounds of 80 and 73.

However, the four-time PGA Tour winner - whose last success came in the Honda Classic in February - looks to be in far better form in 2017 and finished off his round in style with a birdie on the 238-yard ninth, his closing hole.

"The reason last week that I wanted to be off (was to) get some downtime rest, spend time with friends," the 28-year-old told PGA Tour Live.

"I just don't play four in a row and Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational) is a place that I like to play. Unfortunately, I had to miss it last year, but I wasn't going to miss it this year.

"So it was nice to have the week off to kind of relax, recharge a bit, and I love playing here. I like playing my way in the majors and they've been able to do a great job here with conditions around the greens and making it similar as possible to next week.

"Just playing and going through the process and getting ready makes things a lot easier when you go tee it up Thursday next week."

Rose was level par after eight holes, but the 2013 US Open champion then birdied six of his next seven holes before a clumsy chip on the 16th cost him a second bogey of the day.

"I'm really pleased with that because I saw Rickie had shot eight under and I was kind of grinding through that early stretch, so to get it going from that point onwards was great," Rose told Sky Sports.

Fowler carded eight birdies on his way to a first round 64 (Getty)

Rose, who was tied second in the Masters in 2015, practised at Augusta with Henrik Stenson recently and added: "Augusta is a course I know really well.

"I've probably played it 100 times now it's the one course I continually take notes and I'd rather lose my passport than my Augusta yardage book!"

Bradley won the first major he played, the 2011 US PGA Championship, and has contested every major since, but his exemption has now run out.

Juston Rose leads the British challenge in Houston (Getty)

And that means the world number 105, who is without a victory since 2012, has to win in Houston to claim the last available place in the Masters.

"It's really difficult," the 30-year-old said. "It's weird being here and not having the though process of going to Augusta. But there is still one spot available. I've got to play very well obviously but we'll give it a go."

Two-time major winner and Texas native Jordan Spieth returned an opening 69, while three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson had to settle for a level-par 72.

PA