LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Cantlay shot a 10-under 62 in good climate and turf circumstances Thursday at La Quinta Nation Membership for a share of the first-round lead with rookie Lee Hodges in The American Categorical.
Cantlay performed the primary seven holes in 7 below, making an eagle on the par-5 sixth and 5 birdies. The FedEx Cup champion added birdies on Nos. 11-13, two of them par 5s, and closed with 5 straight pars.
“I obtained off to a roll firstly and form of made a bunch of putts after which I form of lagged on the best way coming in,” Cantlay stated. “However I used to be pleased with all the things. I assumed I did all the things nicely and it’s a golf course I actually like. It’s in good form and so, if you happen to get the ball rolling on line, it ought to go in.”
Cantlay received the BMW Championship and Tour Championship in his last two begins final 12 months and opened this 12 months with a fourth-place end two weeks in the past in Hawaii on the Sentry Match of Champions. Final 12 months within the desert, the 29-year-old former UCLA participant closed with a Stadium Course-record 61 to complete a shot behind winner Si Woo Kim.
“I grew up a pair hours away, so there are a bunch of pleasant faces within the crowd and so it’s actually enjoyable,” Cantlay stated. “It’s the most effective a part of what I do is if you get on a roll like that and also you’re making a bunch of birdies.”
Hodges made a memorable debut within the occasion. The previous Alabama star performed the again 9 at La Quinta in 7-under 29, eagling the par-5 fifth and making 5 birdies.
“It’s one among my favourite golf programs I’ve ever performed, to be sincere,” Hodges stated. “I performed it I assume thrice now and it’s spectacular. It’s like hitting off of mats half the time. It’s simply in good form. You get rewarded for good photographs out right here, which I like that. Good golf will get rewarded.”
Cameron Younger and Ok.H. Lee had been tied for third at 64. Younger performed at La Quinta, and Lee on the Stadium Course.
Brandt Snedeker was at 65 with Joseph Bramlett, Greyson Sigg, Sam Ryder, Danny Lee, Tom Hoge, Wyndham Clark and Seamus Energy. Snedeker and Clark performed at La Quinta, Bramlett and Ryder on the Stadium Course, and Lee, Hoge, Energy and Sigg on the Nicklaus Match Course.
The gamers who opened at La Quinta will play the Nicklaus Match Course on Friday and the adjoining Stadium Course on the weekend, with sturdy wind anticipated Saturday.
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High-ranked Jon Rahm and Graeme McDowell had been within the group at 66, each taking part in at La Quinta.
“I favored the rating and the climate,” Rahm stated. “It’s all the time a really fulfilling stroll out right here. La Quinta Nation Membership it’s an awesome golf course. It’s all the time in pristine form, among the best we play all 12 months shape-wise.”
McDowell performed the occasion solely as soon as earlier than, lacking the lower in 2003.
“I feel my caddie and I are each taking a look at one another questioning why it’s taken us so lengthy to get right here,” McDowell stated. “Clearly, the climate is ideal and these golf programs are so nicely introduced.”
Harry Higgs had a hole-in-one on the par-3 fifteenth at La Quinta in a 66. He used a 5-iron on the 199-yard gap.
Match host Phil Mickelson was tied for final within the 156-player discipline after a 78 at La Quinta. He made a quintuple-bogey 9 on the par-4 eighth after hitting two drives out of bounds proper.
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