JT Poston shot a 10-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead after day one of The American Express at La Quinta Country Club.
The 31-year-old American started on the back nine and recovered from his only bogey on the par-four first as he ended his round with an eagle and nine birdies.
Justin Lower is a shot behind Poston after a bogey-free 63 that included back-to-back eagles, a shot ahead of an eight-under pack that includes Jason Day, Joel Dahmen, Chris Kirk, JJ Spaun and Matti Schmid.
“When I feel like I’m really hitting it good, I feel like I’ve got all the shots and can get the ball close to the hole and really take advantage of those scoring clubs,” Poston, a three-time PGA Tour winner, said. “I feel like I can go out there and make a bunch of birdies like I did today, so a tournament like this sort of plays into that.”
Canadian Nick Taylor built on his victory in the Sony Open last Sunday with a 65 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course. Tony Finau is seven under, while Justin Thomas shot 67 and Patrick Cantlay carded a 68.
JT Poston carded an eagle and nine birdies to take a one-stroke lead at The American Express
Blades Brown, the 17-year-old prodigy playing on a sponsor exemption, shot 72 in his first round as a professional. After bogeying his second hole and double-bogeying his third, the high school junior from Nashville, Tennessee, calmed down and strung together three consecutive birdies before finishing with 12 straight pars.
The American Express is the third event of the new PGA Tour season and one of only two pro-ams on the calendar, a carryover from the event’s long history as the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler planned to play, but he dropped out 10 days ago to give his right-hand injury more time to heal following his freak Christmas accident.
Defending champion Nick Dunlap posted a 67 at La Quinta on his return to the tournament where he became the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour.
Watch The American Express from the PGA Tour from January 16-19 live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream PGA Tour, majors and more with NOW.