Sergio Garcia and Jordan Spieth shine at AT&T Byron Nelson
Friday 20 May 2016 19:26, UK
Sergio Garcia is tied for the lead after the opening day of the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament in Dallas, thanks to a seven-under par 63 on Thursday.
Pre-tournament favourite Jordan Spieth is one stroke adrift following a 64 that yielded seven birdies and a solitary bogey, as well as equal halves of 32.
Garcia, the 2004 champion who has not triumphed on the PGA Tour for almost four years but finished second at the Honda Classic earlier this season, looks in great form to contend in Texas this weekend.
Rain delayed the Spaniard's round at TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving and he was quiet early on, starting at the 10th hole and reaching the turn at one-under after a birdie three at the 15th.
However, he was sensational on the front nine, which he covered in just 29 shots, kicked off by a birdie two at the second following a superb tee shot, which landed close to the pin.
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Further birdies followed on the fourth and sixth before the 36-year-old rolled in an eagle putt of almost 60-feet at the seventh.
Another birdie at the eighth meant Garcia had picked up five shots in as many holes to climb to the top of the leaderboard.
He is competing in his 301st PGA Tour event and he admitted it took time to find his touch: "I had a couple of really nice saves and then really got going on the second nine, making a couple of bombs that really helped."
One of these 'bombs' arrived at the 17th where he holed from 20 feet to save par: "That kept me at one under and then kind of caught fire on the other nine.".
New Zealander Danny Lee and American Johnson Wagner are also tied with Garcia. Lee's bogey-free round included a run of five birdies in six holes around the turn while Wagner, starting on the 10th tee, played his opening nine holes in 31.
The highlight of Spieth's round came at the opening par-four hole where he missed the green with his approach but chipped in for birdie.
Spieth made his PGA Tour debut at this course in 2010, when still only 16, and the world No 2 admitted: "Holing the chip, I really saved a stroke-and-a-half on that shot.
"Took advantage of the easier holes and made a couple of mid-range putts.
"Lost a little control with my iron play on some pretty easy shots that I will look to improve on but other than that I'm pretty pleased."
Spieth completed his round in semi-darkness which left 30 players on the course unable to complete 18 holes. Dustin Johnson is also tied-fourth along with Spieth.
Watch coverage of day two of the AT&T Byron Nelson on Sky Sports Xtra and Sky Sports for iPad from 1pm on Friday, and from 9pm on Sky Sports 4 HD.
