Holmes & Hicks Set Pace at AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am


J.B. Holmes began right where he left off last week in the opening round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Though he lost on the second playoff hole Sunday to Jason Day in the Farmers Insurance Open, Holmes played exceptionally well Thursday, firing an 8-under 64 to share the 18-hole lead with Justin Hicks in the $6.8 million PGA Tour event.

Both Holmes and Hicks played their opening rounds at Pebble Beach Golf Links. For the first three rounds the players rotate between that course - site of the final round following a 54-hole cut - and Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula Country Club.

Holmes carded seven birdies, an eagle on the par-4 10th hole and a lone bogey. Starting off on the 10th tee, Holmes's round got off to a bang when he holed out a wedge from 123 yards. In all, he hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and putted very well.

"It's a good start for me and an all-around good day," the 32-year-old Kentuckian said. "I felt good about my game last week, and I feel good about it this week. However you want to say it, I felt pretty good coming into here."

Hicks, a 40-year-old from Michigan in search of his first Tour title, posted six birdies and an eagle. The latter score came on his final hole of the day, the iconic par-5 18th at Pebble Beach.

Six players are just a stroke back. The scores were low thanks to sunny, 75-degree weather and light winds. Posting 65s at Pebble Beach were John Daly, J.J. Henry and Dudley Hart, with Jim Furyk - making his season debut, Chesson Hadley and 2013 champion Brandt Snedeker recording 7-under 64s at the par-71 Monterey Peninsula.

The surprise name in that group is Daly, the well-traveled, sometimes-troubled two-time major winner. The 48-year-old Arkansan, who now lives in California, posted seven birdies and no bogeys.

The notoriously long-hitting British Open and PGA champion showed he hasn't lost much length off the tee; on Thursday Daly averaged 322 yards on his drives.

"(Low rounds) don't come easy and they don't come often," said the five-time Tour winner, who hasn't visited the winner's circle since the 2004 Buick Invitational and matched his career-low round at Pebble Beach. "I'm happy with today. I had really good rhythm. I hope it stays the rest of the week. As long as I hit my driver well and hit my irons, I can compete with these guys."

Going 6-under for a share of ninth were Pat Perez and Max Homa (both at Pebble Beach); Aussies Rod Pampling and Matt Jones, and Nick Watney (Monterey Peninsula); and Alex Prugh, who carded the low round at the generally tougher par-72 Spyglass Hill.

The top-ranked player in the field at No. 4, Day of Australia opened with an even-par 72 at Pebble Beach, a score matched at Spyglass Hill by the tournament's defending champion, Jimmy Walker.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.