Palmer Leads Waste Management Phoenix Open; Woods Opens with 73


Ryan Palmer fired a 7-under 64 to take the 18-hole lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The $6.3 million event started Thursday at TPC Scottsdale during Super Bowl week in Arizona.

The 38-year-old Palmer, a three-time Tour winner who finished tied for 10th in last week's Humana Challenge, carded five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 13th hole. One stroke back are Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson.

Watson had the shot of the day when his tee shot on the drivable par-4 17th hole just missed going in for an ace. Unfortunately, he missed the five-foot eagle putt on 17 and settled for a birdie. All told the two-time Masters champion had five birdies, an eagle on the par-5 third and a bogey.

Bradley had seven birdies and a bogey. "It feels so good to go out and play a really solid round tee to green," Bradley said. "Made a bunch of putts, which feels good. I'm pretty anxious to get the season started, so it's a relief to go out and shoot a good number in the first round to hopefully get my season going."

The Vermont native added that the TPC Scottsdale course - which underwent an extensive remodel last year overseen by original architect Tom Weiskopf - now has more teeth than in years past.

"Played a lot different," Bradley noted of the venue, which annually draws the biggest crowds in golf. "The course was much more difficult. There are a lot of carry numbers on the greens because the greens are so firm. It's kind of like a U.S. Open . . . I love that [Weiskopf] has given you a lot of opportunities to hit a lot of drivers. It's amazing. We don't get to do a lot of that anymore. He did a great job with the course."

Also at 6-under is Daniel Berger, but the 21-year-old rookie wasn't able to finish his round as darkness halted play. He'll finish up on Friday, when the forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of rain and further delays may be in the offing.

Opening with 66s were Americans Zach Johnson, Robert Streb and Ben Martin and Scotsman Martin Laird. Eight others shot 67s.

In his first tournament of 2015, Tiger Woods carded a 1-over 73. The 39-year-old, who's finally healthy after back surgery last year, got off to a rocky start with bogeys on his first two holes. Things got worse on the par-3 fourth, which he double-bogeyed. His first birdie of the day came on the par-4 fifth, but he bogeyed the par-4 ninth to make the turn in 4-over 39.

Woods settled down a bit on the home half. Despite a bogey on the par-4 11th, he eagled the 13th and birdied the 17th after driving the green and two-putting for a 2-under 34.

Woods admitted to reporters that he had trouble with his short game. He's got a new swing coach - Chris Como - and has gone back to the swing that led him to so much success for a 10-year period starting in the mid-1990s.

"I have a new grind to my wedge and sometimes it's hard to trust," he said. "I got into the flow of the round but it was just about trying to get committed to this swing change. I'm so much shallower than I used to be . . . it's the trust in that and I struggled with that."

He also admitted to having to shake off the rust. "This is my second tournament in six months. I just gotta get committed to hitting a club less. I bailed out on a couple of shots. It's going to take awhile to get the feel of my hands and ability to shape shots."

Woods added that the road back is one he's gone through before, including recoveries from knee surgery as well as other physical and personal issues. "I've been through it before. It's not the first time I've gone through it. I need to get competitive rounds under my belt and trusting my swing. It just takes time. Physically, I'm fine."

In the end, Woods with pleased with how the day turned out. "I fought back from 5-over par. I'm tired. It takes a lot of energy to fight back from that."

Defending champion Kevin Stadler withdrew before the start of the tournament due to a wrist injury.

Phil Mickelson, a two-time winner of the Phoenix Open, started with a 70. Bill Haas, winner of last week's Humana Challenge, posted a 71.

Playing in his first tournament since getting beaten and robbed under mysterious circumstances after missing the cut at the Sony Open two weeks ago, Robert Allenby posted a 70.

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