Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Late starter Hoffman moves one ahead at Texas Open

Published 03/26/2015, 10:08 PM
Updated 03/26/2015, 10:08 PM
© Reuters. PGA: Valero Texas Open-First Round

© Reuters. PGA: Valero Texas Open-First Round

(Reuters) - American Charley Hoffman, bidding for a fourth PGA Tour victory, took advantage of a favorable afternoon start to seize a one-stroke lead in the opening round of the Texas Open in sunny San Antonio on Thursday.

With conditions a little easier in the afternoon after the morning field had struggled in strong gusting winds, Hoffman fired a flawless five-under-par 67 on the challenging layout at the TPC San Antonio.

Australian Aaron Baddeley, helped by an extraordinary birdie at the par-four 17th, opened with a 68 and American Max Homa with a 69 as only 12 players ended a testing day under par, all of them benefiting from afternoon tee times.

Five-times major winner Phil Mickelson and fellow American Ryan Palmer returned 70s but U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany ballooned to an 82 after having to contend with morning winds that gusted up to 40 mph (64 kph).

Baddeley, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour, produced the shot of the day after losing his ball in trees with a hooked drive at the par-four 17th.

Playing his third after being penalized one stroke, he teed off for a second time and promptly holed out for a birdie from 336 yards.

"I hit it straight and started walking off the tee and all of a sudden everyone in the crowd started going crazy," Baddeley told Golf Channel after a round that included five birdies and a lone bogey.

"And I'm like, 'I think I just made birdie!' That was a crazy finish to the round."

World number six Jordan Spieth, a Texas native, also took advantage of an afternoon start as he carded a 71.

"When the wind died down just a little on the back nine, it made those down-wind holes easy and the into-the-breeze holes manageable," the 21-year-old said after recording an eagle at the par-five 14th, a birdie and two bogeys.

"So I am very pleased with the start and really lucky with the draw that we had."

Americans Matt Kuchar and Cameron Percy were the best players among the morning wave, grinding out level-par 72s when the average score was 78.61. As conditions became calmer in the afternoon, the average score improved to 74.86.

© Reuters. PGA: Valero Texas Open-First Round

"Even par is still an amazing day," said Kuchar. "This was about as challenging of conditions as I can remember facing."

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.