Friday 17 April 2015 23:32, UK
Matt Every and Graeme McDowell shared the lead after the first round of the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, with Jordan Spieth eight shots off the pace as he came back to earth following his Masters win.
In difficult conditions, with strong winds and a distinct chill in South Carolina, birdies were hard to come by but Every carded six before a bogey on the 18th, while McDowell matched him only in reverse after bogeying the first.
"I hit a lot of fairways which I haven't really been doing enough of this year and I felt great on the greens," McDowell told Sky Sports 4. "The wind was tough to pick on the back nine, but I controlled my flight, made some good putts and I’ll take that for an opener."
Given the way the course was playing, staying at the top of the leaderboard was as much about survival as anything.
"I was greasy today," Every said. "It wasn't my best ball striking, it wasn't easy out there, but I got the best out of it.
"It was blowing. Back in the trees, when it's coming from the north and banking off the trees going the other way, it's dicey, but for the most part I did a good job."
Sangmoon Bae is alone in third place, one shot back, ahead of a five-way tie for fourth which includes Kevin Kisner, Scott Langley, Morgan Hoffman, Matt Kuchar and Cameron Smith.
Smith could have been much better placed but for a bogey on the third and a double bogey on the seventh, where his tee shot put him in the trees and he faced a long road back. He had earlier carded five birdies in six holes between the second and seventh holes.
Kuchar's round was highlighted by a 35ft putt for birdie on the par-five 15th, which was the only hole on which his playing partner Spieth enjoyed any luck.
The world No 2 could only post a three-over 75 in his first round since winning last week's Masters, joining Boo Weekley and Jason Dufner in the group facing a battle to make the cut.
Watch day two of the RBC Heritage live on Friday from 8pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
