Brian Davis chipped in for birdie at his last hole on Thursday for a six-under 65 and a one-shot lead after the first round of the PGA Tour Valspar Championship.
The Englishman, a two-time winner on the European Tour, had Americans Sean O’Hair and Ricky Barnes hot on his heels.
Sweden’s world No. 3 Henrik Stenson, Alex Cejka of Germany, Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge, and Americans Justin Thomas, Derek Ernst and Nicholas Thompson shared fourth on four-under 67.
Photo: AFP
Cejka was coming off a playoff victory on Sunday at the Puerto Rico Open.
Davis, seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, had stumbled late with bogeys at his 16th and 17th holes, the seventh and eighth at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course.
He regained sole possession of the lead when he chipped in from 25 feet.
Davis had started strong with five birdies in his first nine holes.
He got to seven-under with birdies at the par-five fifth and par-four sixth, but three-putted for bogey at the seventh, before a bogey at the par-three eighth, where he was unable to get up and down after missing the green.
He was just off the green at his closing hole, but got out of trouble with a perfectly judged chip.
“The golf course was there, no wind and fairly soft, so you have to try to make your score today if you could,” Davis said.
O’Hair set an early target with a 66 that included eight birdies and three bogeys.
The 32-year-old, who won the Valspar title in 2008, is seeking his first victory since the 2011 Canadian Open.
He admitted that returning to a course where he has won before was a confidence-builder.
“I’ve always liked this golf course,” O’Hair said. “That’s more where the confidence comes from... results from the past.”
Barnes’ six birdies included four in a row starting at the ninth, but his only bogey of the day, at the par-three 17th, cost him a share of the lead.
Stenson, playing at Innisbrook for the first time, even though he lives in Orlando — about 160km away — was pleased with what he found, especially after a bogey-free round.
“Kept my patience and kept my game plan. All in all, a good day,” Stenson said.
Defending champion John Senden of Australia carded a three-over 74 that left him tied for 114th place.
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