Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke both sit five shots off the lead after day one of the PGA Tour Champions’ Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club in California.
Harrington, who is defending the title he won in trademark dramatic fashion with a birdie on the last 12 months ago, was uncharacteristically reserved as he went about his opening round, making one birdie and one bogey on the front and then two birdies coming home, but failing to take advantage of either of the two par-5 in the final four holes.
“Scored poorly,” was how he concisely summarised his round on X. “Need a good two days now to catch up.”
Clarke’s round began in fine fashion with birdies on two of the opening three holes, but he followed that with nine pars before dropping a shot on 13. Two further birdies – including one at the last – and one bogey saw him into the clubhouse alongside Harrington at -2.
They trail first round leader Brendan Jones by five. The Australian Champions Tour rookie birdied five of his first six holes enroute to a seven-under 64, and it’s the first time he’s broken 70 this season – his previous best being a 72 at the Cologuard Classic.
The chasing pack includes Freddie Jacobson and Michael Allen who are a shot back at -6, with Ernie Els, Alex Cjeka and Steve Allen one further adrift at -5.
“Yeah, got off to a fantastic start, I think five-under through six,” Jones recalled after the rounds. “My head was buzzing at that stage, I couldn’t in my wildest dreams imagined getting off to that start that I did, but I felt calm and I felt that I could have gone on with it too.
“I grew up on kikuyu. I love the grass, and when I saw this place the first day I was just licking my chops. I just thought this is me all over it. I’m happy that I got off to the start that I have because yes, you can come here and feel that it’s right up my alley, but you’ve still got to go out and do it. Very happy with the start.”
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