Charley Hoffman is a darkhorse pick for The Masters next week but on Thursday, no one could beat him in Houston.
Hoffman missed the course record at the Golf Club of Houston by a shot but still put up an eight-under par 64 that was good enough for the day one lead at the Shell Houston Open.
The only blemish on Hoffman’s scorecard came at the par three 16th when he failed to get up-and-down from a greenside bunker. Other than that, it was a near-perfect day. “I drove it good, hit some iron shots and holed some 15-20-foot putts, which I haven’t done much this year,” Hoffman said after his round.
Scoring conditions were ripe, soft greens from strong rains earlier in the week let the players stick their approach shots. Add an absence of wind and it turned into a birdie barrage.
Hoffman finished a shot better than a foursome of players that included Dustin Johnson. Two bogeys kept Johnson from tying the course record. “Overall it was a great day,” DJ said afterward. “I made two bogeys, one was a mud ball. Other than that I played really solidly and holed some putts.”
There are 33 players in the field using this week as a warmup for the Masters, including Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth. Mickelson shot 69 while Spieth found himself just three back of the lead after shooting 67.
