LA QUINTA, Calif. — Scottie Scheffler’s concept was to determine the sport state of affairs at American Specific, and every little thing gave the impression to be going nicely Thursday. He birdied half the holes and shot a 9-under 63, becoming a member of a parade of low scores that left him one stroke behind the lead.
At PGA West’s Nicklaus Event Course, Minu Lee and Pierceson Coody led the way in which with 10-under 62s, the best of the three within the rotation. Scheffler performed at La Quinta and didn’t miss the inexperienced till the seventeenth gap. He chipped it for birdie.
“I believe probably the most troublesome factor about this take a look at as a result of it’s important to shoot so low is which you can solely shoot below par for a spherical of golf,” Scheffler stated. “I’ve to take care of my tempo right here as a result of my scores are unusually low on the better assessments and as soon as I begin falling behind it turns into a lot more durable to catch up.”
Jason Day had probably the most spectacular spherical of the day, taking pictures a 63 at PGA West’s Stadium Course. On common, it was practically 4 strokes more durable than the Nicklaus course and simply over three strokes more durable than La Quinta.
However it was a strong begin for most of the 156 gamers. With three programs, it was the biggest home subject of any common PGA Tour occasion this 12 months. They have been handled to the perfect circumstances anticipated of the California desert, with nice climate and little wind.
Even with TGL’s new know-how, climate like this all the time makes you wish to play indoors in Palm Springs.
“I will be within the Dome quickly,” Vince Whaley stated after scoring 63 factors in opposition to Nicklaus. “Little or no wind, excellent grass, excellent golf course. It is a good verify to see how your recreation is in very calm circumstances, as a result of if you cannot hit a 6-iron right here, there isn’t any manner you may hit a 6-iron anyplace.”
Scheffler leads the strongest subject in a long time at American Specific, racking up a complete of 13 tour titles and three majors up to now two years, and is approaching his third anniversary as world No. 1.
This was his first match with a full subject and the primary time he performed with a 36-hole minimize. It has been for the reason that match in Napa, California (the place I received) in September.
Sixth gap into the brand new 12 months, he was already 5 below.
Scheffler hit solely 5 of 14 fairways, however was hardly ever out of place for the remainder of the spherical, twice being blocked by bushes, one howe requiring a tough fade, and a low slider round a tree on the seventeenth. It ran throughout the inexperienced and the chip rolled in like a putt.
The beginning was quick, with the same old pars interspersed with birdies within the center. The one factor that made me really feel no less than a little bit burdened was when the sprinklers went off at my toes throughout the post-round interview.
“I felt like I may have hit a couple of extra fairways on the again 9. I simply need them to offer me a little bit extra of an opportunity,” Scheffler stated. “Regardless that I used to be lacking the green, I used to be lacking the suitable aspect. And even when I did not have one of the best shot on the again, it was good to maintain it in play and provides myself an opportunity.”
That was true for nearly everybody.
Lee made three birdies in a row close to the flip, then 4 in a row in the direction of the top of the spherical. Coody made seven consecutive birdies on the again 9 and completed with a par.
9 gamers within the group have been 63 years outdated, together with Ben Griffin and Patrick Cantlay, and eight extra have been 64 years outdated.
The ultimate spherical can be held on the Stadium Course, however the primary disadvantage was that the greens have been laborious and troublesome to method. Day launched a brand new set of Avodah irons this 12 months, so it hasn’t been a lot of an issue.
“The iron felt nice, my quick recreation felt nice, and my putts have been actually good right now,” Day stated. “I needed to work on my driver a little bit bit, some drives have been a little bit off, however total I really feel fairly strong.”
Rickie Fowler obtained off to a sluggish begin with three bogeys within the 4 holes of La Quinta’s again 9, however his left shoulder felt nice and he did not have a lot match rust. Fowler has not raced for the reason that BMW Championship 5 months in the past.
divot: Blaze Brown, an 18-year-old who turned professional final 12 months, completed off a grueling 24 hours with a 67. He completed a Korn Ferry Tour occasion within the Bahamas on Wednesday (tied for seventeenth) after which took a non-public aircraft to Palm Springs, arriving round 8 p.m. Tea time was at La Quinta on Thursday at 9:58am. He earned a aircraft ticket as a reward for ending within the prime 50 finally 12 months’s Myrtle Seashore Basic. … Brian Herman hit the mistaken ball on the tenth gap and obtained a two-stroke penalty. The Golf Channel reported that what he hit was an novice golf ball.
