The first round of the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge did not disappoint. 17 of the 18 entrants, all of whom are ranked inside the top-43 in the world, managed to break par on the opening day at the Albany Championship Golf Course in New Providence, Bahamas — Hideki Matsuyama’s 3-over par 75 being the only exception.
Jimmy Walker, Zach Johnson and Paul Casey all share the first-round lead following rounds of 6-under par 66. The group at 5-under includes Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Bill Haas and Brooks Koepka.
Paul Casey, Zach Johnson and Jimmy Walker share Hero World Challenge lead. Three tied in 18-man field is like, uh, 26 tied in 156-man field.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) December 3, 2015
The small field was dispersed over nine tee times across an hour and 20 minutes on Thursday with action going on all over the Ernie Els-designed course. Spieth got the excitement pumping early in his round on the par-3 second hole.
Jordan Spieth has aced half the holes he’s played today. #QuickHits https://t.co/0khB0LugGV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2015
And just a few minutes later, Chris Kirk (-3) holed out for an eagle of his own.
From T13 to T2 with one swing. #QuickHits https://t.co/jvwj7aJsnV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2015
The Albany layout features five par-5s and five par-3s, which tends to favor guys like Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson who bomb it. For the eccentric pair, however, things were a little tough out on the course. For Watson, some of his issues were self-induced mud-enduced.
Bubba yelling, “MUD BALL!” might as well be, “NOT MY FAULT!” pic.twitter.com/J7ektzPApi
— Chris Chaney (@Wrong_Fairway) December 3, 2015
Bubba still played the par-5s in 5-under (three birdies, one eagle) despite playing a course he felt “is better than (he is)”.
For DJ, his problem came from spending time in the water and no, it did not involve a jetski. He sliced the heel of his right foot when removing his swimming fins. The cut couldn’t be stitched shut, so instead doctors glued the cut together. Undeterred, if not a bit hobbled, Johnson fired a 4-under par 68.
“It’s alright,” he said afterward.
The second round kicks off tomorrow at 10 a.m. with Golf Channel on the coverage starting at noon.
