Bryan birdied his last two holes to stretch his lead to three shots over five players on 66, a group that includes former PGA Tour winners Charley Hoffman and Troy Merritt, along with tour rookie Parker Coody.
This tournament is held opposite the RBC Heritage, site of Bryan's only PGA Tour victory in 2017.
But with injuries to his left shoulder and wrist, his game has suffered since then and Bryan has spent more time delivering YouTube content with his brother, George. They first gained fame with their trick shots.
There was nothing tricky about his 63 on Thursday (Friday AEDT), outside of the chip-in for eagle on the par-5 fourth on the Corales course at Puntacana Resort and Club, and his chip-in for birdie on the par-3 17th. Bryan also birdied the 18th.
His 63 matched his lowest round on the PGA Tour, first achieved in the third round of the Genesis Open at Riviera in 2017.
Hoffman is 47 and already had a surprise start to his year with a playoff loss in the Phoenix Open.Â
He started on the back nine, played bogey-free on a breezy day and finished with three straight birdies.
As an opposite-field event, the winner gets into the PGA Championship and receives a two-year exemption, which more than makes up for not getting a spot in the Masters.
The group at 67 included Billy Horschel and Pierceson Coody, twin brother of Parker. Their grandfather is Charles Coody, the 1971 Masters champion.
The RBC Heritage at Harbour Town is known for being a big exhale from the Masters. Perhaps the Dominican Republic had some of that vibe for Nicolai Hojgaard, though his scorecard looked like he was going through an emotional hangover - five birdies, six bogeys, seven pars for a one-over 73.
Hojgaard, a 23-year-old from Denmark, briefly had the lead on Saturday at the Masters until making five straight bogeys to finish in a tie for 16th.
He is the only Masters participant playing at Punta Cana.
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