American Michael Putnam plundered the opening day of the Humana Challenge with a blistering nine under par 63 to lead the PGA Tour event by a shot at La Qunita.
Putman took full advantage of the ideal scoring conditions at the PGA West’s Jack Nicklaus Private Course including picking off six birdies in succession his round.
“The course is in perfect shape with the greens good, and that made for a birdies,” he said.
Five players – Mark Wilson, Blake Adams, John Peterson, Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Scott Pinckney – were tied for second. Wilson, Adams and Peterson played the Nicklaus course; Molinari opened on the Arnold Palmer Private Course and Pinckney was at La Quinta.
Wilson, 40, won the 2012 tournament for the last of his five PGA TOUR titles.
American Michael Putman sizzles with a nine under par 63 on day one of the Humana Challenge. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
“I came in feeling OK, nothing great about the game, but it was ideal first day,” said Wilson. “I made some saves when I needed it and capitalized on my good shots.”
Adams made his first start in his comeback from hip replacement surgery. He last played a TOUR event in March and had surgery in July. Playing on a major medical extension, he has 16 events to earn $497,044 to keep his tour card.
“Very, very blessed to be back out here,” Adams said. “It’s been a long road to get back. You never know what you’re going to get when you have total hip replacement.”
The 39-year-old Adams bogeyed his final hole. He had six consecutive birdies from No. 14 to No. 1 and three in a row on Nos. 5-7.
“If the putts fall, great, if they don’t, so be it,” Adams said. “I had a great day [Thursday]. I’m going to go out there [Friday] and do my best and if I shoot 64 again, great. If I shoot 74, so be it.”
Defending champion Patrick Reed had a 65 at La Quinta. He’s coming off a playoff victory against Jimmy Walker two weeks ago in Hawaii in the Tournament of Champions.
Last year, Reed shot three 63s to open a seven-shot lead and closed with a 71 for a two-stroke victory. He broke the PGA TOUR record for relation to par for the first 54 holes at 27 under and became the first player to open with three rounds of 63 or better.
“I feel like I left a lot out there, but it’s always good to shoot 7 under,” Reed said. “My confidence is as high as it could be and the main thing is just not getting ahead of myself and not really being over-confident where I take too many unnecessary risks.”
Playing partner Matt Kuchar, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 11 in the world, also had a 65. He closed with a bogey.
“This course here, La Quinta, is fantastic,” Kuchar said. “Fun course, challenging, tight off the tees and in great shape. The greens are just spectacular.”
Mickelson made a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 third, holed out for birdie from a greenside bunker on the par-4 fourth and made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 sixth. After dropping shots on Nos. 12, 14 and 16, he hit a wedge to 2 feet for birdie on the par-4 17th.
“Even though this score is the worst I’ve had in a long time, in months, I’m excited about my game and getting back out [Friday],” Mickelson said. “I can’t wait to get started again, because I just feel like I played a little tight [Thursday], kind of steered it a little bit.”
The 44-year-old Mickelson, the 2002 and 2004 champion, is winless in 27 PGA TOUR starts since the 2013 Open Championship. He has lost weight and gained strength working with trainer Sean Cochran during the long break from competition.
“My body hasn’t felt this good in years,” Mickelson said.
FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel, playing alongside Mickelson at La Quinta, also had a 71. He had three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on the back nine.
“Very sloppy,” Horschel said. “I didn’t hit it as good as I have the last couple days.”
* Extra reporting www.pgatour.com
