Adam Long had a lot on his mind as he stepped up to the first tee box within striking distance of a 31-year-old PGA Tour record during the opening round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on Thursday.

The American was one shy of equalling the record of 59 for consecutive fairways set by Brian Clear in 1992 and the pressure was on.

“Had everyone not come up and said something to me the last 24 hours, I probably wouldn't think about it as much as I did. But it was in my mind, for sure, to start,” Long said.

The 36-year-old’s phenomenal streak began at last week’s World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico, where he became the first player since Clear in 1992 to hit every fairway in a single tournament and continued at Port Royal where he would set a new mark.

Long equalled the record at the par 4 1st hole before surpassing it at the par-5 2nd.

“I hit a hybrid on the first and then the second fairway is really hard to hit,” he added. “Luckily it was kind of into the wind so I hit a driver and hung in the fairway somehow and perfectly in the middle, so after that I was just kind of coasting.”

Long hit the next nine fairways before the streak ended at 69 after his tee shot landed in the rough on the par-4 15th.

“It was a 3-wood that I hit up in the air a little too spinny and the wind caught it,” he said. “Didn't quite go far enough, so it stayed in the rough. Yeah, it was a little bit of relief that part was over.”

Long, who is seeking to secure his PGA Tour status for next year, is among a bunch of players tied for 32nd at five under.

Also in record breaking form during Thursday’s opening round was Sweden’s Alex Noren, who carded a record 11 birdies and also equalled the tournament and course record with a 10-under 61 to take the early lead.