Humana Challenge: Michael Putnam sets early pace at La Quinta

American Michael Putnam produced a birdie blitz to take the lead after the first round of the Humana Challenge at La Quinta in California.

The 31-year-old, playing the Jack Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West, was level par after six holes before rounding off his front nine with birdies at the seventh and ninth.

He added another birdie at the 10th and then parred the par-three 10th before rattling in six consecutive birdies from the 12th for a nine-under-par 63.

Putnam, who has never won on the PGA Tour, is one shot clear of Italian Francesco Molinari, whose flawless eight-under 64 on the Arnold Palmer Private Course featured eight birdies.

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American quartet Mark Wilson, who won the tournament in 2012, Blake Adams, John Peterson and Scott Pinckney are also tied for second on eight under.

Pinckney carded the best round at La Quinta Country Club – the players will play three different courses in the first three rounds – where defending champion Patrick Reed made a solid start with a 67, which included five straight birdies from the ninth.

Matt Kuchar matched Reed’s score at La Quinta, but Phil Mickelson could only manage a one-under 71, which included three bogeys on the back nine, at the same venue on his return to action for the first time since criticising USA captain Tom Watson after their Ryder Cup loss.

England’s Luke Donald struggled to a three-over 75 on the Palmer course and the new slim-line Jason Dufner was one shot worse at La Quinta.

Watch the second round of the Humana Challenge from 8pm on Sky Sports 4 on Friday.