Bryce Molder leads Dean & DeLuca Invitational in Texas
Friday 27 May 2016 09:33, UK
Bryce Molder is the surprise leader after the opening 18 holes of the PGA Tour's Dean & DeLuca Invitational in Texas.
The 37-year-old from Arkansas was in the first group of players driving off the 10th tee at 7am on Thursday morning, and his six-under-par 64 remained at the top of the leaderboard in Fort Worth throughout the day.
In a remarkable round at Colonial Country Club, Molder opened with nine straight pars before needing just 29 shots on his return to the clubhouse.
He birdied each of his last four holes and, at the end of day one, holds a one-stroke advantage over compatriots Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed, as well as India's Anirban Lahiri.
Although murky conditions led to a 90-minute weather delay during the morning, all 121 players completed their rounds.
Molder, whose sole PGA Tour victory came during the Fall Series of 2011, admitted it was a round of two halves.
He said: "I hit a lot of greens early, around 20, 30 feet away, and just kind of rolled it up close.
"And then all of a sudden, I hit a couple close when I made the turn. Maybe the delay helped me wake up.
"Actually, I went back out on the range and just kind of made one little tinker here or there, and found a little groove for the rest of the holes."
Molder, who six years ago fired a 62 around the same Colonial course, added: "I've always loved these greens. I got some good looks and they happened to go in."
Lahiri, who is one of the few non-Americans on the first page of the leaderboard, combined a brace of bogies with seven birdies, while pre-tournament favourite Jordan Spieth is well-placed following a 67.
The 22-year-old, who is tied for ninth, played in more breezy conditions during the afternoon. He missed the opening six fairways but still hit 14 greens in regulation while suffering his only bogey at the 244-yard, par-three, fourth hole.
He said: "It was so tough to gauge the wind correctly and get the ball close to the hole.
"On a day like this, you're just really looking to hit greens in regulation, be as stress-free as possible, and it felt like we were out there."
Only four of the leading 17 players after round one were non-Americans.