MIAMI: Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer was hot on the heels of rookie co-leaders Cody Gribble and Wesley Bryan Thursday after one round of the US PGA Tour Honda Classic.
Bryan and Gribble both teed off early at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and produced six-under par 64s that none of the later starters could match.
But Gribble and Bryan, who is coming off a career-best tie for fourth at Riviera Country Club on Sunday, have no margin for error with Germany’s Kaymer and India’s Anirban Lahiri just a stroke back, with seven more players on 66.
Kaymer finished with back-to-back birdies for his 65, chipping in from the green-side rough at 17.
“It was just one of those shots you want to get within three feet or so,” Kaymer said. “It was a bit of a bonus. You try to get away with a par and then chip in for two. I take it. Sometimes it works out the other way and you make a bogey.”
Lahiri drained a 25-foot eagle putt at the 18th to join Kaymer at five-under.
Bryan and Gribble had set the target early.
Bryan played his first eight holes at even par before a birdie at 18, then poured in five birdies in his last nine holes.
He was happy to be back at PGA National, where he won his card for the Web.com Tour just over a year ago — going on to win three times on the developmental circuit to earn his PGA Tour card.
“A place that I’m comfortable at, and a golf course I know, they are few and far between out here,” Bryan said. “It’s my first run at all these tournaments out here. I love this place, love this golf course and I had a great day.”
Gribble, who lifted his first PGA Tour title in October with a storming finish in the Sanderson Farms Championship, hit all 18 greens in regulation to seize his share of the lead.
He offset his only bogey at the par-four 16th with seven birdies, including at his last two holes.
Washout in Thailand
An unseasonal storm washed out the second round of the Honda LPGA in Thailand on Friday, with pools of water on the fairways preventing any significant play.
The mid-morning downpour meant leaders Ariya Jutanugarn and Amy Yang — both on six under par after round one — were among the players unable to tee-off.
World number two Ariya is the home favorite and many at the Chonburi course hope she will make amends for her runners-up place in 2013.
The then 17-year-old choked on the final hole with three bogeys to fall into second place.
She enjoyed a stellar 2016, winning five events en route to becoming the LPGA’s Player of the Year.
Bryan and Gribble both teed off early at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and produced six-under par 64s that none of the later starters could match.
But Gribble and Bryan, who is coming off a career-best tie for fourth at Riviera Country Club on Sunday, have no margin for error with Germany’s Kaymer and India’s Anirban Lahiri just a stroke back, with seven more players on 66.
Kaymer finished with back-to-back birdies for his 65, chipping in from the green-side rough at 17.
“It was just one of those shots you want to get within three feet or so,” Kaymer said. “It was a bit of a bonus. You try to get away with a par and then chip in for two. I take it. Sometimes it works out the other way and you make a bogey.”
Lahiri drained a 25-foot eagle putt at the 18th to join Kaymer at five-under.
Bryan and Gribble had set the target early.
Bryan played his first eight holes at even par before a birdie at 18, then poured in five birdies in his last nine holes.
He was happy to be back at PGA National, where he won his card for the Web.com Tour just over a year ago — going on to win three times on the developmental circuit to earn his PGA Tour card.
“A place that I’m comfortable at, and a golf course I know, they are few and far between out here,” Bryan said. “It’s my first run at all these tournaments out here. I love this place, love this golf course and I had a great day.”
Gribble, who lifted his first PGA Tour title in October with a storming finish in the Sanderson Farms Championship, hit all 18 greens in regulation to seize his share of the lead.
He offset his only bogey at the par-four 16th with seven birdies, including at his last two holes.
Washout in Thailand
An unseasonal storm washed out the second round of the Honda LPGA in Thailand on Friday, with pools of water on the fairways preventing any significant play.
The mid-morning downpour meant leaders Ariya Jutanugarn and Amy Yang — both on six under par after round one — were among the players unable to tee-off.
World number two Ariya is the home favorite and many at the Chonburi course hope she will make amends for her runners-up place in 2013.
The then 17-year-old choked on the final hole with three bogeys to fall into second place.
She enjoyed a stellar 2016, winning five events en route to becoming the LPGA’s Player of the Year.
