Saturday 20 February 2016 01:43, UK
Camilo Villegas narrowly missed out on the Riviera course record on his way to opening up a three-shot lead after the opening round of the Northern Trust Open.
The Colombian almost holed his chip shot at the last which would have seen him match Ted Tryba's record of 61, but instead a two-putt bogey saw Villegas close a birdie-filled 63 to leave him three clear of the chasing pack.
At eight under, Villegas is four strokes ahead of Rory McIlroy, who is making his first PGA Tour start of the season, while world No 1 Jordan Spieth sits 16 strokes off the pace after posting a career-worst opening round.
"Things were going good there," Villegas told reporters. "Obviously the rain yesterday made the golf course a lot more accessible.
"It was pretty stress-free today. I hit the ball good and kept it in play. I didn't put myself in tough positions on a golf course where you can put yourself in tough positions, and here we are with a nice little 63 to get started."
After following four birdies on the back nine with a kick-in gain at the first to move alongside morning clubhouse leaders Chez Reavie, Luke List and Bubba Watson, Villegas drained a 25-footer at the fifth to take the outright advantage.
Villegas got within five feet of the sixth flag off the tee to pick up another shot, before further birdies over the next two holes temporarily gave the four-time PGA Tour winner a four-stroke advantage.
Having almost pitched-in from the rough for a fifth birdie in a row at the last, Villegas carded his only blemish of the day after missing his par-save putt from seven feet.
Watson, who won at Riviera two years ago with a 64-64 weekend, opened with a five-under 66 to match early pacesetter Reavie and List, whose bogey-free start was the best of his PGA Tour career.
Back-to-back birdies on his opening two holes made McIlroy one of seven players in the clubhouse on four under, with South Africa's Tyrone Van Aswegen also in that group with two holes to complete when play was suspended for the day due to fading light.
Justin Rose is part of the group six adrift of the lead, while only Steven Bowditch is below Spieth at the bottom of the leaderboard after the world No 1 posted an uncharacteristic eight-over 79.
"I'd say from six inwards I probably let a couple of shots go," Rose told Sky Sports. "It wasn't playing too tough out there and was pretty soft so I'd like to have had one or two more, but 69 is a good start."
Watch the Northern Trust Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
