Zach Johnson made a strong start to his Sony Open title defense in blustery conditions on Thursday when birdies on two of the last three holes lifted him into a six-way tie for the lead after the opening round.
Johnson, who won last year’s title by two shots, fired a five-under 65 at Waialae Country Club to set the pace with fellow Americans Davis Love III, Ryan Palmer, John Merrick and PGA Tour rookie Troy Merritt, plus Australian Robert Allenby.
Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina eagled the par-five 18th on the way to an adventurous 66 to lie one stroke off the lead with nine other players.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The straight-hitting Johnson was delighted with his round, having shrugged off an early bogey at the par-four fifth with a flawless run of six birdies in the last 11 holes.
“It was good,” the 2007 Masters champion told reporters after covering the back nine in a sizzling four-under 31. “I really played pretty solid all day. I made my short putts and hit some 15 to 30-footers really good. I just barely missed.”
“The key element here is certainly the wind and the wind today was severe at times, especially early on in the round,” Johnson said. “This golf course incorporates everything for me — high shots, low shots, working the ball a little bit.”
Tour veteran Love, bidding for his first victory since the 2008 Disney Classic, and Palmer each birdied their final holes to jump into a share of the lead.
“I birdied the first two holes in the big wind this morning and so I was off and running,” Love said. “That was a great way to start 2010.”
Merritt, who won last year’s PGA Tour qualifying tournament, was the surprise package at the top of the leaderboard, recording six birdies and a lone bogey in his debut appearance on the US circuit.
Twice winner Ernie Els and 2005 champion Vijay Singh, each making their first starts on this year’s PGA Tour, opened with matching 69s.
■JOBURG OPEN
AFP, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
International golf unknown Neil Schietekat of South Africa fired a nine-under 62 on Thursday to take a one-stroke first-round lead at the Joburg Open.
Seeking his first professional victory, the 24-year-old from the Free State town of Harrismith snapped up nine birdies and did not drop a shot as he lowered the tournament record by one stroke.
The last of four tournaments on the South Africa leg of the European Tour produced a flurry of low scoring despite wet, stormy conditions at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. It is one of only three Tour events staged on more than one course and the shorter west layout was were Schietekat and most of the other leaders made the low scores.
Former Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, South Africans Charl Schwartzel and J.B.E. Kruger, and English pair Simon Khan and David Lynn occupied second place, one shot behind the pacesetter.
Clarke, who shares the European Tour lowest score record of 60, also delivered a flawless round, while picking up five birdies on the outward trek and another three coming back. In-form Schwartzel, winner of the Africa Open in East London last Sunday, collected seven consecutive birdies to be eight-under after 11, but a double-bogey at the next hole halted his charge.
Scot Alastair Forsyth carded a 64 and those lying one stroke behind him include Barry Lane and Danny Willett of England, Scotland’s Andrew McArthur, Clodomiro Carranza of Argentina and Australian Matthew Zions.
Defending champion Anders Hansen of Denmark had to settle for a one-over 72 that left him 10 strokes off the pace.
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