Two Tied for Lead in Fog-Delayed Valero Texas Open


Pat Perez and Danny Lee share the 18-hole lead in the Valero Texas Open. The $6.2 million PGA Tour event at TPC San Antonio got off to a slow start Thursday morning as fog caused a two-and-a-half-hour delay before the first groups began play. As a result of the delay, the field teed off both the first and 10th holes.

With a birdie on the front nine to make the turn in 1-under 35, the 38-year-old Perez, who's only win came in the 2009 Bob Hope Classic, carded four birdies - including one each on the final three holes - and a bogey on the home half.

Perez said he recently changed from a conventional putting grip to cross-handed. "I want to putt conventional, but I don't putt well doing that," he said. "So I went back to cross-handed and started to putt well. I got some old feelings back that I had when I won, and I've just taken it from there."

The 23-year-old Lee also had five birdies and a bogey Thursday. The New Zealander, winner of the 2008 U.S. Amateur at age 18, has won on the European Tour but is still searching for his first title in the States.

Lee also said the key to his round was good work on the short grass. "I was hitting it really good but I wasn't making that many putts early in the round but at the end I was making quite a lot of putts," he said.

Will MacKenzie, Cameron Beckman and South Korea's Seung-Yul Noh both shot 69s.

One of the pre-tournament favorites, Phil Mickelson, was able to complete his round, but the result was disappointing. The five-time major winner, currently ranked fifth in the world, carded a 5-over 77 that included two birdies, five bogeys and a double on the par-4 18th.

Mickelson was paired in the same group with defending champion Martin Laird and 2013 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Jordan Spieth. The 31-year-old Laird, a native of Scotland, opened with a 72 while Dallas native Spieth had a 75.

Mickelson, making in his first appearance in San Antonio in 22 years, was hoping to play well this week and next week in the Shell Houston Open in preparation for the Masters in April. Mickelson is a three-time Masters winner, earning his most recent green jacket in 2010. He'll need some magic on Friday to make the weekend cut.

Spieth was hoping for a better start in his two home state tournaments before his first Masters. "This is a stretch I've been looking forward to since the beginning of the year," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"Obviously, my first Masters (is soon), but also to start in the home state getting ready for it. It's a great way to get confidence, to kind of feel the support of the fans as well as getting your game ready on very difficult golf courses."

Also playing in his home state, the season's only three-time winner Jimmy Walker was at 2-over through 14 holes as this story went to press.

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