SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The day after turning 53, Phil Rodgers had another reason to celebrate.

Rodgers, a non-winner in four years on the Senior PGA Tour, set a course record with a 7-under-par 65 yesterday to take a three-stroke lead over Don January and Bob Brue after the first round of The Tradition.

Rodgers shared the first-round lead here last year, but finished in a 13th-place tie of the rain-marred tournament.

The previous course record was 66, set by Don Bies, Gene Littler and Ken Still in 1989's inaugural Tradition.

"The only thing I was disappointed in is I missed a birdie on 10 of the other holes," Rodgers said with a laugh. "That was by far the best round I can remember in the last 10 years. It was an easy day, a magnificent day, and it was the most birdies I can remember in a long time.

"The other day, I went to the zoo to see what a 'bird' looked like. I hadn't seen one for so long. This is a lot of fun. I like to see other guys chasing me for a change."

Defending champion Jack Nicklaus, making his Seniors season debut on the course he designed, struggled to a 71. Lee Trevino shot 75.

Trevino, winner of seven events as a Seniors rookie last year and a two-time winner this season, had four bogeys and a double-bogey.