JT Poston shot a 10-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead after the first day of The American Express at La Quinta Country Club.
The 31-year-old American started on the back nine and recovered from his only bogey in the fourth when he finished his round with an eagle and nine birdies.
Justin Lower is a shot behind Poston after a bogey-free 63 that included back-to-back eagles, a shot ahead of an eight-man group that includes Jason Day, Joel Dahmen, Chris Kirk, JJ Spaun and Matty Schmid.
“When I feel like I’m hitting really well, I feel like I’ve got all the shots and I can get the ball closer to the hole and really take advantage of those scoring clubs,” Poston, a three-time PGA Tour winner, said. “I feel like I can go out there and make a bunch of birdies like I did today, so a tournament like that kind of plays into that.”
Canadian Nick Taylor built on his win at the Sony Open last Sunday with a 65 at Pitt Day Stadium. Tony Finau is under seven, while Justin Thomas has 67 and Patrick Cantlay 68.
Blades Brown, the 17-year-old prodigy playing on a sponsor’s exemption, shot 72 in his first round as a pro. After bogeying his second hole and bogeying his third hole, the high school senior from Nashville, Tennessee, calmed down and strung together three straight birdies before finishing with a 12-par straight.
The American Express is the third event of the new PGA Tour season and one of only two pros on the calendar, a carryover from the event’s long history as the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
World No. 1 Scottie Schaeffler had intended to play, but pulled out 10 days early to give a right hand injury more time to recover after a freak Christmas accident.
Defending champion Nick Dunlap shot a 67 at La Quinta on his return to the tournament as he became the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour.
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