Jeff Overton holds a one-shot lead following a bogey-free opening round at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
The 27-year-old Indiana native shot six birdies at TPC Four Seasons Resort to card a six-under-par 64 opening round that left him one ahead of fellow American Ryan Palmer, who managed to overcome three bogeys with eight birdies to end the day five under.
Overton said: “I hope this is the beginning of a good streak for me. I've been hitting it really well the last three or four weeks, I just haven’t made my putts all year. It's a game of putting. If you can make your putts inside of 10 feet and hit it reasonably well, you're going to have a good chance of winning the golf tournament at the end of week.
“I've had some good shots the last couple of weeks, and all year I've made almost every single cut except for the one that my driver broke, and other than that I have made every cut.
“I haven't been able to get those 12 to 15-footers to go in, and that one hot round separates yourself from finishing in the top-five versus way back in the pack. So hopefully it's a break-through round, and I can carry it over.”
2004 winner Sergio Garcia is among a group of players who began their challenge with a four-under-par round. The Spaniard had been a major doubt for this competition because of an infected fingernail and left it late to decide whether or not he would compete in Irving Texas. But the 31-year-old will be glad he did after shooting three birdies, an eagle and a bogey in his 64.
Joining him on four-under are an American contigent of Dustin Johnson, Jeff Quinney, Scott Piercy, Will Stricker, Chris Riley, Josh Teater and Keegan Bradley.
Looking to force his way back into the world’s top 50 Vijay Singh started in positive fashion with a two-under-68, while recent Players Championship winner KJ Choi endured a disappointing day that saw him cancel out three birdies with four bogeys in a one-over 71 that leaves the South Korean off the pace.
