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Taylor Pendrith of Canada, Argentina Alejandro Tosti and American golfers Keith Mitchell and Ryan Gerard shared the head on Thursday when the darkness interrupted the first round of the PGA Houston open.
The four fired one by 65 from five sous the Memorial park before Sunset stops playing a rainy day with 18 competitors still on the route to finish their opening lathe on Friday morning.
Scottie Scheffler, better classified, during the final development event before defending the title of the Masters next month, pulled a 67 without Bogey to resist two drift.
“I started playing a little better on the nine on the back. The first nine, I did a little, but I after a score,” he said.
“The conditions were quite difficult there with the rain and the wind, therefore overall, pleasant to keep a clean card.”
The world number two Rory McILroy, the players’ championship and the winner of Pebble Beach Pro-Am who needs the Masters to finish a big career in a career, had two Birdies and two Bogeys in a first 70 round.
“A little pedestrian, I guess it’s a good way to describe it,” said McILroy.
“I had to face these conditions from the start, rainy and not too pleasant to play. Made a few peer stops very early that I needed and I had a lot of chance the nine seconds that I did not convert.”
The only player with less than two heads not to finish was Taylor Dickson. The American had three sous with three remaining holes.
Pendrith, whose only title of PGA finally came to the CJ Cup of May byron Nelson, would have led alone, but did his only Bogey at 18 after finding a bunker in the Greenside and missed a new feet putt.
His six birdies included a 42-foot putt in the fourth par-4 and another just inside 24 feet to 17.
“I played quite well. Day difficult, the rain was on and off and I was afraid for us,” said Pendrith. “Hagniez well in there, did not make too many mistakes and driven the ball very well. I saw some beautiful putts go early and gave me confidence. It was an excellent start.”
The round without Bogey de Tosti included a 22-foot putt in the third by 5 and a TAP-in in the 16th by 5.
“Very satisfied with the result,” said Tosti. “I played very solid.”
Another player in search of Tosti his first PGA title is Gerard, a recruit whose best result of the tour finished fourth at the Honda Classic 2023. The back-nine starter sorted out four of his first eight holes to close his turn with consecutive bogys.
“Played really solid, just a strange couple on the last two holes,” said Gerard. “It is not easy when it rains and then the wind, then the launch with the umbrella and the ball that spurts the face of the golf club.
“I really tried to stay patient. It was the key to the day.”
Mitchell, whose only PGA victory occurred at the 2019 Honda Classic, caught its share of the head with an eagle putt from 12 feet to 16 years old.
“I hope I can stay lively and continue driving it this week,” said Mitchell.
JS / DC
