World number 251 Garrett Willis found himself in the unusual position of leading after the first round of the Transitions Championship.
American makes use of sponsor's invite to lead after first round
World number 251 Garrett Willis found himself in the unusual position of leading on the PGA Tour as his 65 topped the first round of the Transitions Championship in Florida.
The little-known American was only playing thanks to a sponsor's invitation, but made great use of that by shooting a round of six-under par to take the first round lead.
Told two weeks ago there was a place for him in the event, the 36-year-old Nationwide Tour graduate hit back from a third-hole bogey with seven birdies on the par-71 Innisbrook course.
Willis ended day one with a two-shot lead over Sweden's Carl Pettersson, alongside defending champion Retief Goosen and home quartet Jim Furyk, Jonathan Byrd, Jeff Maggert and rising star Rickie Fowler.
Maggert himself was only included in the field after Vijay Singh pulled out with a back injury.
Playing well
"I've been playing really well all year," said Willis, whose only PGA Tour victory came in Tucson nine years ago.
"I've made four out of five cuts and I really haven't capitalised on my play. I put myself in position a couple of times and slipped back."
Willis had raced around his back nine holes in just 30, a run which was sparked off on the 10th as he chipped in to make a three.
England's Ross Fisher was also in the group in second with two holes to play, but he made a mess of the 17th and ended up with a 68 in only his fifth tournament this year.
Padraig Harrington spent St Patrick's Day having dinner with President Obama at the White House, and returned to the course with an eventful end to his two-under 69.
Mixed fortunes
After opening with 10 successive pars Harrington made a 38-foot putt for eagle on the next and chipped in from 50 feet at the 12th.
However, he followed that up with a six on the long 13th and then another bogey at the 215-yard 17th sent him tumbling down the leaderboard, but he then holed a bunker shot for a closing birdie.
Scot Martin Laird had a one-under 71 and English pair Luke Donald and Brian Davis both signed for 71s too, but Ian Poulter and Justin Rose had disappointing rounds of 73.
Poulter, winner of the WGC Match Play in Arizona last month, is playing his last Tour event before next month's Masters, while former European number one Rose is hoping to climb into the world's top 50 in time for Augusta. He is currently 59th.
As for Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, he crashed to a 12-over-par 83 on his return to America from his high school graduation.
