Tony Finau leads the Charles Schwab Challenge after opening with seven birdies to sneak ahead of Jordan Spieth and Roger Sloan.
Finau carded one bogey on his front nine, but after the turn he finished without any blemishes. He credited his improved putting for getting him to 6-under 64.
"I haven't been putting great I feel like, and standing over the ball the most important thing is, do you feel like you're going to make the putt or not?," Finau said after his round, via Golf Digest. "Outside of everything else, Do you believe you can make the putt? So for me, I needed to switch something."
Finau hopes his new grip will keep him in contention at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. But there is a crowded field behind him, including Texas native and 2016 winner Spieth.
7 birdies and one bogey for @TonyFinauGolf.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 23, 2019
Finau holds the solo lead @CSChallengeFW by one shot. pic.twitter.com/mxtaHChVMz
Spieth birded his final hole to move into second place (5 under) with Sloan. Spieth was also putting well, finishing the day 15 of 15 from putts inside 15 feet. He also sank a 46-foot putt on the par-3 4th hole for a birdie.
Are you kidding?@JordanSpieth from 46 feet. Buckets.#QuickHits
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 23, 2019
📺: https://t.co/hah4g5wNli pic.twitter.com/M5G6Ye2HLi
Spieth could have easily been in first place after firing off eight birdies but carded a double bogey on the par-4 18th hole and a bogey on the par-3 8th to finish just a stroke shy of Finau.
"It's nice to see some results off what I believe is the progress I've been making," Spieth said, via the Dallas Morning News. "At the same time, it's one round. I've got to keep my head down and keep working."
An ideal round of golf for @JordanSpieth.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 23, 2019
The 2016 @CSChallengeFW champion opens with a 65.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/etZxEfMf77
There is a sizable tie for fourth place (3 under) — including an American cast featuring Jason Dufner, Jimmy Walker and Trey Mullinax — to round out the top finishers.
Justin Rose, the defending champion, had a forgettable round. He fell into a tie for 96th place after his round was plagued with five bogeys.
Rickie Fowler joins Rose at 4-over 74.
The second round will begin 8 a.m. ET with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. on the Golf Channel.