LOS ANGELES — South African Branden Grace had seven birdies in a six-under par 66 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the US PGA Tour’s Texas Open.
Grace, coming off an 11th place finish in his title defense at the Heritage, birdied three of the four par-fives on the TPC San Antonio Oaks Course.
His birdie at the par-five eighth marked the start of three birdies in a row, a burst that included a 25 foot putt at the ninth to salvage a birdie after his tee shot found the rough.
“I hit it right in the thick of stuff and managed to get a flyer,” Grace said. “I think I hit a wedge from 180 yards, got it to the back level. Made 25-footer for birdie. That’s the best birdie I made all day.”
Will MacKenzie, John Huh, Steven Alker and Stewart Cink shared second on 67. Huh had five birdies without a bogey in his five-under effort.
MacKenzie opened with a bogey at the 10th but had six birdies the rest of the way.
“That was a tough start, but then I started hitting some good iron shots in there and made some clutch putts,” he said.
New Zealand’s Alker joined the group with birdies at his last three holes.
Cink teed off on 10, and after two birdies and a bogey in his first nine he really got going with three straight birdies at the second, third and fourth. He added one more at the sixth, hitting just eight of 14 fairways in regulation but finding 15 greens.
It was a further stroke back to a big group on 68 that included former US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, Brooks Koepka and South Korean Noh Seung-yul. Ken Duke was also at four-under after a round that included holing out from a bunker for an eagle at 14.
Defending champion Charley Hoffman carded a 71, while Curtis Luck, the 2016 US Amateur champion from Australia who is making his professional debut, signed for a 73.
Luck opened with three straight bogeys. He finished with six bogeys, three birdies and an eagle.
Wiesberger storms to lead
Austrian Bernd Wiesberger fired a spotless seven-under-par 65 to grab a four-shot clubhouse lead before the second round of the Shenzhen International was abandoned due to heavy rain and lightning Friday.
Wiesberger headed to the Genzon golf Club early to complete his first round after the opening day’s play Thursday was hit due to threat of lightning in the afternoon.
He got to one shot of the lead with a 67 and then scorched the course with a bogey-free second round to surge ahead to 12-under at the halfway mark.
Dylan Frittelli and Thorbjorn Olesen carded rounds of 68 to be at four-under while Richie Ramsay was a stroke further back alongside Gregory Bourdy and Bubba Watson, who were early in their second round when play was suspended.
“I can’t complain about the score today,” said Wiesberger, who is chasing his fourth European Tour title.
The second round will resume at 0630 local time Saturday, with round three set to go off two tees in three-balls not earlier than 1130. — Agencies
