Friday 24 April 2015 16:26, UK
Boo Weekley and Brendon de Jonge posted an opening round eight-under 64 to hold a share of the lead at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Weekley, seeking his first PGA Tour victory in two years, took advantage of rain-softened conditions to card an opening round 64 on a weather-affected first day at TPC Louisiana that saw play suspended for 80 minutes.
One of the early starters, Weekley fired an eagle at the par-five second and posted seven further birdies to set the early pace, before De Jonge pulled level at the top of the leaderboard late in the day following a bogey-free round.
“It was good,” Weekley told Sky Sports 4. “I’ve been struggling with the driver this year and we’ve finally found one and I think it showed out there.
“The last month I’ve been hitting the ball well but struggling with my irons. I needed an equipment change and it happened today.”
Canada’s David Hearn opened with four successive gains to join Sean O’Hair a shot off the first round leaders, with the American unable to follow on from his lightening start which saw him reach the turn in just 30.
O’Hair holed his 120-yard approach shot to eagle the par-four first, before rolling in a birdie at the next. A chip-in birdie at the fourth was followed by a 10-foot gain at the sixth, with O’Hair nailing a 15-foot putt at the seventh straight after the rain delay.
The American almost became joint-leader when his 53-yard third shot at the par-five 11th rolled past the cup and presented a tap-in birdie, but dropped back to six-under at the next after dragging a nine foot par-save putt away from the hole. After completing the next five holes in regulation, O’Hair lifted an up-and-down at the 18th to within 12-feet and holed the birdie putt.
Four gains from the final five holes from Daniel Berger left the Honda Classic runner-up part of a large group tied on six-under alongside Brian Davis and compatriots Erik Compton, who produced a blemish-free round, and Mark Hubbard, who left his tee-shot at the par-three ninth inches from the flag.
Australia’s Jason Day, the highest-ranked player in this week's field, produced an opening round 67 to join world No 7 Dustin Johnson in the group of players a further stroke back.
"I made a great start, birdying the first hole, and everyone kind of followed suit after that," Day said. "The course is very receptive, it's very gettable. It was good to be a part of a group with DJ (Dustin Johnson) and Ben Crane.”
Masters runner-up Justin Rose, making his first appearance since Augusta, dropped three shots in the space of two holes on his front nine but responded strongly to post an opening round 69.
Watch day two of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans live on Friday from 8pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
