PALM HARBOR, Fla. — After a late start to the year, Jim Furyk might be getting up to speed.

Furyk made two long birdie putts and was equally thrilled with a 10-foot par save on his final hole Thursday, which gave him a 6-under 65 in the Transitions Championship. It was the first time he has held the outright lead since his last PGA Tour victory 20 months ago.

"Something I can try to build on," Furyk said.

Stephen Ames was one shot behind after a 66 on a Copperhead Course that was demanding as ever, but one he enjoys far more than the Blue Monster last week at Doral that favors the big hitters.

The group at 67 included Kenny Perry, who sandwiched birdies on the tough 16th and 18th holes around his only bogey on the round.

Furyk took a five-week break to start the year. Having failed to win last season — only the third time in the last 14 years he gone an entire PGA Tour season without winning — he decided not to start until Pebble Beach. His scores have improved each week, and Furyk really hit his stride last week at Doral with four rounds in the 60s to finish third.

"I was a little nervous about being rusty," he said. "It had been a long time since I played. I seemed to get back into the flow quickly."

The bigger problem has been getting back to winning.

His last victory was at the end of July 2007 at the Canadian Open. Stranger still is that Furyk, who has 13 career victories, has not been atop the leaderboard after any round since then.

He hasn't been played poorly. His putter has been the culprit, and the few times he did give himself a chance in the final round, he simply didn't hole enough putts.

"The reality is, I didn't win. That's what everyone emphasizes, and I understand why," he said.