Ever-improving Tom Hoge was plodding along at Pebble Beach Thursday, not spectacular, mind you — he was three-under par through 11 holes. His day started on the back nine — Pebble’s tougher side.
Then he went on a career-best birdie run starting at the third. He made six straight birdies and finished with a 30 on the gettable front nine. His nine-under par 63 put him atop the AT&T Pro-Am leaderboard. Rounds like that happen when you only putt 23 times and that was the case for Hoge, who has been working his way into contention more often the past couple of years.
“I’m improving in everything, especially managing the course,” Hoge pointed out after an excellent day’s work.
While Hoge’s 63 was the talk of the first round, Seamus Power might have had the most impressive outing. He shot an eight-under par 64 at Spyglass Hill, which is considered the toughest of the three-course rota playyed at this event.
Patrick Cantlay, ranked fourth in the world and the only top 10 player in the field, stumbled early in his round at Monterey Peninsula but recovered enough on the back nine with five birdies that gave him a six-under par 65 to start his championship. “It was a weird middle of the round,” said Cantlay, who three-under for his first six holes but took back-to-back bogeys at seven and eight. It didn’t stop him from working up way up the leaderboard.
“I like all three courses here,” said Cantlay, who came in as the pre-tournament favorite.
Jason Day, who played well last week at Torrey Pines, shot 68 at Pebble Beach. Jordan Spieth shot a three-under par 68 at Monterey Peninsula, while Maverick MeNealy, whose family lives at Pebble Beach, shot 69 at Monterey. Matt Fitzpatrick shot 68 at Pebble Beach.
The real leader won’t be known until everyone has played all three courses and the cut will be made after 54-holes.
One player already missing from the field was defending champion Daniel Berger, who appeared to be just fine at his Tuesday press conference but withdrew from the tournament on Wednesday with a back issue.
