US Open champion Lucas Glover survived a double-bogey at the opening hole to seize the lead in the first round Thursday at the SBS Championship, the US PGA Tour season-opener
US Open champion Lucas Glover survived a double-bogey at the opening hole to seize the lead in the first round Thursday at the SBS Championship, the US PGA Tour season-opener.
Glover rallied mid-round, playing nine holes from the fifth in nine-under par.
He capped a seven-under 66 with a tap-in for birdie that gave him a one-stroke lead over a group of five players: Australian Nathan Green, Scotland's Martin Laird, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Nick Watney.
It was a further shot back to Argentina's Masters Champion Angel Cabrera, British Open champ Stewart Cink, Sean O'Hair and John Rollins.
The other major champion in the field, which includes only winners from 2009, was South Korea's PGA Champion Yang Yong-Eun, who carded a 70.
Glover's day did not get off to an auspicious start when a wayward four-iron led to a double-bogey.
"I was aiming 25 feet left of the hole and hit it 25 feet to the right," he said. "I got what I deserved."
But Glover bounced back with eagles at the par-five fifth and ninth - throwing in a birdie at six as well.
He then made four birdies in a row from 10, gave a shot back with a bogey at 16 and then claimed sole possession of the lead with his closing birdie.
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia carded a 69 on a Plantation Course that finally saw the customary Tradewinds conditions rather than the Kona winds that prevailed during practice rounds earlier in the week.
"It was a totally different golf course with the Kona winds blowing," Laird said. "Some of the holes we were hitting four- or five-irons into earlier in the week, we were hitting sand-wedges into today."
Laird and Green each had seven birdies and one bogey. Laird, who played in the first group of the day, reeled off four of his birdies in a row from the 13th.
Only two players in the 28-man field - Heath Slocum and Mark Wilson - were over par.
Glover, who captured the US Open at weather-whipped Bethpage Black last year, said he was able to shrug off his early miscue, knowing plenty of scoring opportunities awaited.
"I knew there were a lot of birdies," he said. "I saw some scores early and I knew guys were making birdies, and if I played well, I could get something going. So just don't rush anything. Be patient."
At the fifth he hit a six-iron to 18 feet for eagle, and he hit a three-wood to 30 feet for an eagle at nine.
"Obviously, I'm happy to be getting started again," Glover said. "I played and practiced when I could, but it might be tough to hit a three-iron off of a hanging lie."
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