DEARBORN, Michigan (Ticker) -- Hubert Green's record-setting round at the Senior Players Championship could have been lower. But he's not complaining.

Seeking his first major title on the elder circuit, Green matched the tournament scoring record Friday with a 9-under-par 63 that included a chip-in for birdie at the TPC of Michigan's 18th hole.

Green reached 10-under 134 midway through the final major of the season, putting him three shots ahead of first-round leader Hale Irwin, Howard Twitty and Mike McCullough.

Irwin recorded the best opening-round score in tournament history before struggling to a 73.

Green rarely struggled as he came within a stroke of his best round during a 33-year professional career that includes 19 PGA Tour titles. His 63 matched the Senior Players Championship mark set by Jim Colbert in 1995.

"I made some good putts," said Green, who has three wins in six years on the Senior Tour but has cracked the top 10 just once this year. "And it was a nice, fun day."

It could have been even more fun if not for lip-outs at the fifth and 16th holes. But the 56-year-old Alabama native had little to complain about.

"When you make nine birdies, that's pretty damn low," he said. "Don't get piggish out here. The golfing gods have the last say, and they have two more rounds here before they are through with me."

Irwin carded a 64 on Thursday but played the last nine holes Friday in 2-over and fell three shots off the pace at 7-under 137. The 1999 winner has a Senior Tour-record 34 titles and the lowest scoring average in Senior Players Championship history.

"There's nothing really to fix," he said. "That's what I've kind of been thinking. I went out yesterday and kind of fixed a few things that I let a little loose.

"I think I'm just going to go have an early dinner and take my wife to a movie and play golf tomorrow. See what happens. Sounds like a good idea."

Twitty had a rollercoaster bogey-free 69 that could have been lower if not for a faulty putter. On the back nine, he missed a pair of eight-foot putts and a 10-footer, but was happy playing the course without a bogey.

"Really, to play any golf course is pretty tough without a bogey," said Twitty, who is winless in 109 Senior Tour starts. "You know, I'm very pleased with it. Just hope I can keep from making mistakes the next two days."

McCullough made few mistakes en route to a 69 that left him in a tie for second. He had five birdies and two bogeys as he continued his quest for his first major title in eight years on the elder circuit.

Tour rookie Mark McCumber, Tom Jenkins, Stewart Ginn of Australia and Jay Sigel are tied for fifth at 138, a stroke better than Tom Wargo and two ahead of Larry Nelson, Dave Stockton and Butch Sheehan.

Doug Tewell, Bruce Lietzke, Ted Goin and Dick Mast are seven strokes back at 141.

Defending champion Allen Doyle is at 143.

Green made his move toward this year's title early Friday, opening the round with three straight birdies. He sank six-foot putts at Nos. 1 and 2 before draining a 20-footer.

Not known for his putting, Green kept his stroke going with a 15-foot birdie putt at the sixth. He also made eight-footers at the eighth and 10th before two-putting for birdie at the par-5 13th.

"I would love to be a good putter, and I've been a consistent putter," said Green, who began the week 44th in the category. "From a short distance, I've made a lot of putts. I'm getting better at it."

Following a lip-out at No. 16, Green rolled in a birdie putt of 15 feet at the 17th and chipped in from just off the front left of the green at the 18th.

Green lowered his best round of the season by three shots and put himself in contention for his first major title on the elder circuit. He has never finished better than fifth in 22 appearances.

"It's always more important to win this than win any other tournament," said Green, who won a U.S. Open and PGA Championship on the PGA Tour. "It's just a nice little thing to have."