Arnold Palmer's grandson Sam Saunders leads in Alabama after 64
Friday 17 July 2015 12:47, UK
Sam Saunders rolled in seven birdies to grab the early lead at the inaugural Barbasol Championship in Alabama.
The 27-year-old, and grandson of seven-time major winner Arnold Palmer, kept a bogey off his card as he posted an opening 64 at the Grand National Course at RTJ Trail in Auburn.
The Florida resident is in desperate need for a high finish in his bid to qualify for the FedEx Cup Play-Offs in August and September – as well as secure his Tour card for next season.
Saunders is currently 143rd in the FedEx rankings, but requires a top-125 finish in the overall standings to qualify for the play-offs.
Starting on the back nine, he made five birdies in eight holes around the turn and was unfazed by the hot weather in the Deep South.
He admitted: “When it's hot like this, you've got to conserve energy.
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"Getting excited about a birdie or getting mad about a bogey just burns energy that you need to try to hit good shots. I try to walk like I'm in a daze out there all day and just stay very level."
Saunders, who has never won on the PGA Tour, said Thursday’s performance was due to an improved putting display.
He added: "I just putted a lot better. I've been playing really well lately, been hitting the ball as well as I've ever hit it in my career in the past few weeks.
"I had just been putting terribly. I finally had a few putts go in today and that always turns over into a little bit of confidence and it was really just that.
"You have to hit the ball well here and I did that today. I drove it well and I hit a lot of good iron shots. I had a lot of putts go in for me today, which is nice. I haven't seen that happen in a long time."
Despite all the birdies, the most important shot of his round was the 15-footer he made at the par-three eighth hole to save par.
His nearest challenger after 18 holes is fellow American Jason Gore who is one stroke further back after a 65.
Gore, who birdied four of his last five holes, said: "The golf course is just there for the taking.
"It's a great golf course. If these are the scoring conditions, not a breath of wind, greens were holding, you just kind of had to go out and take advantage of it."
