ENGLAND'S Nick Faldo was yesterday three strokes behind America's

Kenny Perry and Payne Stewart after the first round of the Heritage

Classic at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

''It was good that I could go out and get on with it,'' Faldo, the new

US Masters champion, said after his three-under-par round of 68, which

consisted only 23 putts.

''The sooner I get used to carrying the title, the better.''

Stewart, who came to this tournament in preparation for another,

compiled a bogey-free 65. He was tied with Kenny Perry, who birdied

three holes in one stretch and got a share of the lead with a 12-foot

birdie putt on the eighteenth hole.

If Faldo's 23 putts were impressive, it was still five more than Kenny

Knox needed for his round of 69.

Knox chipped in three times and had 12 single putts as he tied the PGA

Tour record for fewest putts in a round, set by Sam Trahan in the 1979

Philadelphia Classic and equalled by Mike McGee at Memphis in 1987.

Defending champion Greg Norman of Australia shot a disappointing

six-over-par 77, but was in good company.

Scott Hoch, who lost to Faldo in the Masters playoff, stood at

seven-over-par 78, US Open champion Curtis Strange shot a 74, and former

Masters champion Sandy Lyle of Britain posted an opening round 75.

Leaders (US unless stated):

65 -- Kenny Perry, Payne Stewart.

67 -- Bob Eastwood, Rocco Mediate.

68 -- Nick Faldo (England), John Huston.

69 -- Kenny Knox, Loren Roberts, Billy Ray Brown, Bernhard Langer

(West Germany), Jay Don Blake, Buddy Gardner, Kevin King, Mike Reid.

Others:

75 -- Sandy Lyle (Scotland).