Ryan Moore matched the course record and his career best with a 10-under-par 61 on Thursday in the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.
The former UNLV player from Puyallup had nine birdies, an eagle – on the 341-yard, par-4 15th – and a bogey in perfect conditions at TPC Summerlin to take a one-stroke lead in the Fall Series opener.
“Just one of those nice days,” Moore said. “Got off to a great start. Kind of 7 under on the front nine and just kind of cruised the next nine. Made bogey there on my 17th hole, No. 8, which I wasn’t too happy about. It was great to bounce back with a birdie on the ninth hole.
“No wind and perfect temperature, greens are reasonably soft and rolling nice on top of that. So it’s one of those days that you just keep putting it in play. You know you’re going to have a bunch of pitching wedges, 9-irons, 8-irons into these greens, and a few shorter irons, too.”
Brendon de Jonge had a 62, and Tim Herron and John Huh shot 63. Justin Leonard, Chris Kirk and Jonas Blixt were three strokes back at 64. Kirk eagled the 15th and par-5 16th.
Moore also shot a 61 this season in the Humana Challenge on PGA West’s Nicklaus Course in LaQuinta, Calif.
Moore tied the TPC Summerlin mark set by Davis Love III in 2001 and tied by Tag Ridings in 2004 and Hunter Haas in 2011.
Chip Beck holds the overall tournament record, shooting a 59 in 1991 at Sunrise Golf Club.
“I had no idea that was the course record, so that’s nice,” Moore said. “I’ve just been playing good, solid golf lately. Just kind of keep hitting the ball solid and giving myself opportunities. On a golf course like this, I’m probably more comfortable. I’ve played it more this year than any other coming into it.”
ELSEWHERE
UW senior Chris Williams shot an 8-under 64 to take the individual lead and help the United States take the team lead in the World Amateur Championship in Antalya, Turkey. … South Africa’s Branden Grace birdied the final five holes at Kingsbarns for a course-record 12-under 60 in the first round of the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, Scotland. The three-course event is also being played at Carnoustie and the Old Course, where the final round will be played Sunday. … Paul Simson won the USGA Senior Amateur for the second time in three years, beating Curtis Skinner, 4 and 3, at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, N.J.
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