PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — The PGA Tour is heading to PGA National this week for the Honda Classic.
One of the toughest tests on Tour, the Champion course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Matt Jones leads the field after the opening 18 holes following a first round 9-under 61. He sits three shots ahead of Aaron Wise and Russell Henley at 6 under in second. Four golfers including Steve Stricker are T-4 at 4 under. Six golfers including Shane Lowry sit T-9 at 3 under.
Check out the best and worst rounds of the day after the first round of the Honda Classic at PGA National.
HONDA: Field by the ranking | Leaderboard | Photos | Tee times
Shane Lowry
33-34-67
Overshadowed by his more famous playing partner, Phil Mickelson, Lowry was one of the more consistent golfers Thursday, carding just one bogey and four birdies. Lowry, the reigning British Open champion, started on No. 10 and birded Nos. 16 and 18 with a bogey sandwiched in between. He added birdies at Nos. 2 and 3 before playing even-par the rest of the way. Soon, Lowry will just be a short drive away from PGA National. The Ireland native is building a house in Jupiter.
Hunter Mahan
38-39-77
A six-time winner on the PGA Tour, Mahan bogeyed his first two holes of the day, the start of an eventful day. Mahan, who started on No. 10, played the Bear Trap in 2 over thanks to a double-bogey on No. 15, where he hit his tee shot in the water. Mahan’s best hole of the day was No. 3 when he hit his second shot 259 yards, leaving a four-and-a-half-foot putt for eagle that he sunk. He bogeyed Nos. 4 and 5 to give those two shots right back and then hit into the water on No. 6, finishing with a double bogey. A bogey, birdie and par followed as he completed one of the crazier rounds of the day.
Adam Scott
35-34-69
After an opening bogey on No. 10, Scott’s second shot at 11 ended up on the edge of the water hazard, near the muck. The Australian then stripped off his shoes and threw on a jacket before stepping into the water and hitting the shot to within 12 feet of the hole and sinking the ensuing putt to save par. Scott took advantage of one of the easier holes of the day, the 18th, to card an eagle and make the turn at 1-under. Thanks to three birdies, a bogey and a double bogey, Scott played his final nine holes at even-par.
