Rahm shoots 62 to lead CareerBuilder Challenge

Spaniard Jon Rahm enjoyed a bogey-free round to earn a one-stroke lead at the PGA Tour tournament.

Published : Jan 19, 2018 06:41 IST

Jon Ram playing in the CareerBuilder Challenge
Jon Ram playing in the CareerBuilder Challenge
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Jon Ram playing in the CareerBuilder Challenge

Jon Rahm took the course apart at La Quinta Country Club to shoot a 10-under 62 and lead the PGA Tour's CareerBuilder Challenge on Thursday.

The Spaniard started with successive birdies at the first and second, before an eagle at the par-five fifth was followed by two more birdies at six and seven, the world number three going out in just 30.

Four more birdies followed on the back nine for a bogey-free opening round, as the 23-year-old took full advantage of favourable conditions with a one-stroke lead.

"It's all thanks to the start I had. I was six-under through seven holes and with a couple missed putts," he said. "Any time you have that going for you, you get thoughts come into your head, 60, maybe 59. Adam Hadwin did it last year with worse weather than this."

American Andrew Landry is second after shooting 63 around La Quinta, along with countrymen Austin Cook and Jason Kokrak.

Defending champion Hudson Swafford is four strokes off the pace heading into the second round.

Swafford was flawless throughout Thursday's play, carding four birdies to go with his eagle at the 13th.

Bubba Watson struggled to join the players going low on day one, the two-time Masters winner sinking just two birdies for a two-under 70 and share of 88th, level with Phil Mickelson. 

 

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