There were two names at the top of the scoreboard Thursday at the American Express — one is a star, the other a rookie — but both took apart the easy LaQuinta course.
Player Of The Year last season — Patrick Cantlay — found himself 10-under par through 13 holes on the easiest of the event’s three courses. The FedEx Cup champion had a shot at 59 and surely would get past rookie Lee Hodges, a Korn-Ferry graduate. But Cantlay missed from six feet at the par three 17th for birdie and had another good look from just outside 12-feet at the 18th but couldn’t cash in.
Cantlay did most of his damage over the first nine holes. He was seven-under through seven thanks to five birdies and an eagle at the par five sixth. Birdies at 11, 12 and 13 had him in position to threaten the 59 mark but the birdie tap shut off after 13.
“I got off to a roll at the start and kind of made a bunch of putts and then I kind of lagged on the way coming in,” Cantlay said. “But I was happy with everything. I thought I did everything well and it’s a golf course I really like. It’s in perfect shape and so, if you get the ball rolling on line, it should go in. I grew up a couple hours away, so there are a bunch of friendly faces in the crowd and so it’s really fun. It’s the best part of what I do is when you get on a roll like that and you’re making a bunch of birdies.”
Hodges’ round was just a carbon-copy of Cantlay’s. While Cantlay started at one, Hodges’ day began on the 10th tee. He made the turn in three-under then, as Cantlay did, he dismantled the front nine, shooting a seven-under 29 — a great start for a first-timer at the event.
“It’s one of my favorite golf courses I’ve ever played, to be honest,” Hodges said of LaQuinta. “I played it I guess three times now and it’s spectacular. It’s like hitting off of mats half the time. It’s just in perfect shape. You get rewarded for good shots out here, which I like that. Good golf gets rewarded.”
World’s No. 1, Jon Rahm, one of the pre-tournament favorites with Cantlay, put himself in contention with a six-under par round (66) at LaQuinta.
LaQuinta is considered the easiest with the Nicklaus Tournament course second in difficulty to the Stadium Course.
But two big names struggled at LaQuinta. Rickie Fowler’s 73 left him tied for 119th while Phil Mickelson tied for dead last in the field. Lefty shot 78 along with Austin Cook and Matt Wolff.
K.H. Lee turned in the low score for players on the Stadium course with an eight-under par 64.
Ernie Els (64) Sets The Pace At Mitsubishi Electric:
You wonder, with that swing, how Ernie Els could ever shoot over par. When he gets it going, The Big Easy makes it look easy. That was the case on day on at the Champions Tour opener at the Mitsubishi Electric.
Els had a bogey-free scorecard with six birdies and an eagle at Hualalai to take the first round lead. He was a shot in front of Vijay Singh.
Bernhard Langer, who continues to defy time and age, headed a group of five players at six-under par 66 that included defending champion Darren Clarke.
Conditions were perfect for scoring with little to no wind.
David Duval’s debut on the senior set was less than spectacular. Once the world’s No. 1, Duval struggled and shot a two-over par 74 that left him tied for 39th in the 42-player field.
One Comment
baxter cepeda
He’s predictably playing it cool but that back 9 has to have been frustrating for Cantlay,
Who kind of had a chance to shake off Rahm this week. But instead the worlds number 1 is in striking distance with 3 rounds to play.
Rickies 73 looks bad unless you compare it to Lefty and Wolff. Lefty is not a concern. But Wolff is so inaccurate at times; on that island green everyone was hitting solid shots into the heart of the green but he pull hooked it long. His reactions are the most concerning part. He looked like he was finding his way back but now looks lost again. I know I’m just a guy and he is a multiple pga tour winner but Am I alone wishing he tones down that pre swing hip thing; just to see if that helps the same way doing it has helped in the past?
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As for the Champions tour, they will finally get some trade wind—just 10-20– Saturday, which is basically howling compared to the last 3 weeks or so. It could be another Bernie week.