Adam Scott and Hunter Haas are joint leaders following the first round of the AT&T National in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
With the world’s top 10 absent from this PGA Tour event, it was Scott and Haas who were left to set the early pace with four-under-par rounds to end the day with a one-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
Australian Scott, now working with Tiger Woods’ caddie Steve Williams, made a flying start at Aronimink Golf Club with birdies at the third, fourth and sixth to reach the turn in 32. A bogey at the par-four 10th proved to be the only blot on his card as he added two more birdies at 14 and 18 to finish his opening round in 60.
Haas, meanwhile, also got off to a superb start on the back nine with a hot streak of four successive birdies between the 13th and 16th to reach the turn in 31. The American added another at the fourth hole, but a bogey at the par-four seventh prevented him taking sole possession of the lead after 18 holes.
Hot on their heels on three-under are Dean Wilson, Joe Ogilvie, Jhonattan Vegas and Kyle Stanley, while a group of 10 players, including former world number one Vijay Singh, are a further stroke back on two-under heading into Friday’s second round.
Pre-tournament favourite Nick Watney is back on even-par after a rollercoaster round that featured four bogeys and four birdies, and he is joined by defending champion Justin Rose who shot three birdies and three bogeys on Thursday.
American Hunter Mahan, another popular pick amongst the bookmakers prior to the start of this tournament, endured a miserable first round as he racked up four bogeys in a two-over-par 72.
