On the first day of the American Professional Golf (PGA) Tour American Express (total prize money of 8 million dollars), two remarkable records were set. Rookie Davis Thompson (USA) took two consecutive eagles, and Sam Burns (USA) finished with 9 putts in 9 holes.
First of all, Thompson’s play, which took the sole lead with two consecutive eagles, was more brilliant than anyone else. Thompson, who played at La Quinta CC (par 72) among the three courses in La Quinta, California on the 20th (Korean time), hit a 10-under par 62 with two eagles and six birdies to take the lead by two strokes.
The initial momentum, which reduced 7 strokes in 6 holes from 1 to 6, continued to lead alone. Thompson, who started with a birdie on hole 1 (par 4), took a short break with a par on hole 2 (par 4), then continued with birdies on holes 3 (par 3) and 4 (par 4). The highlight of the day was catching eagles in succession on the 5th and 6th holes, which are consecutive par 5 holes. It is the first time since Shane Lowry (Ireland) recorded consecutive eagles in a single round in the Open last year. Thompson, who also caught a birdie in the ninth hole (par 4) and finished the first nine holes with 28 strokes, added two birdies without a bogey in the second nine holes.
Burns’ play on the PGA West Stadium course (par 72) was also dazzling. Among the plays of Burns, who recorded 8-under-par 64 with 9 birdies and 1 bogey, and tied for 2nd place, finishing with 1 putt in all 9 holes in the first half was especially noticeable.
Burns, who made a 1.8m birdie in the first hole, also made a 1.2m birdie putt in the second hole. He faced a bogey crisis on the 3rd hole, but took a breather by successfully putting a 2.4m par putt, followed by 3m 4th and 60cm birdie putts on the 5th. After putting a par putt of about 1m in the 6th hole, he succeeded in birdie putts of 1.8m, 1.2m and 60cm in the subsequent holes 7, 8 and 9.
Burns, who recorded 29 strokes in the first half with ‘9 holes, 9 putts, 7 birdies’, caught birdies in the 11th and 14th holes in the second half, but recorded a bogey at the last hole 18, leaving a regret. His number of putts in the second half of the 9 holes was 15. 토토사이트
Five players, including Burns and Yon Ram (Spain), formed a tie for second place, and nine players, including Lim Seong-jae (25), who played a round at the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course (par 72), scored a 7 under par 65 and tied for seventh place.
Noh Seung-yeol (32), who was put on the waiting list and got a chance to play after John Huh withdrew, recorded a 5-under-par 67 and tied for 27th with An Byeong-hun (32), while Kim Joo-hyung (21) recorded a 3-under 69, tied for 69 strokes. I finished the first round in 64th place. Kim Si-woo, the winner of last week’s Sony Open and the 2021 tournament champion, tied for 85th with Kim Seong-hyun (25) with a 2 under par 70 strokes.
This tournament will be played on three courses until the third round, and then the final four rounds will be held at the PGA West Stadium course to determine the winner.