Boo Weekley shot 8-under-par 64 and tied Brendon De Jonge of Zimbabwe for the lead after one round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La..
The 41-year-old Weekley, who has won three times on the PGA Tour, holed a 13-foot eagle putt on the second hole before carding three birdies in four holes later on the front nine, added three birdies in a row through No. 13 and made one more for good measure on the final hole with an 11-foot putt.
“I’ve been struggling with my irons the past month or so and finally I got some shafts that work,” said Weekley, who recently missed the cut in three consecutive outings. “I used them in Wednesday’s pro-am and came away feeling really good. Finally, I can control the distance and the trajectory and the numbers.
“And it helps when you’re really putting well. When you put the two together, you can shoot pretty good. Plus, I’m back on Bermuda grass, I’m close to home (Milton, Fla.) and I love the heat. What’s not to like?”
De Jonge, whose only pro victory came in the 2008 Xerox Classic on what is now the Web.com Tour, started on the front nine and collected four birdies in a span of six holes through No. 16 before carding four more birdies on the first six holes of the front side.
Sean O’Hair eagled the first hole from 123 yards and added four birdies to make the turn in 6-under 30 en route to a 65, and was tied for third with David Hearn of Canada, who started at No. 10 and birdied six of his first seven holes.
Rookie Daniel Berger birdied four of the last five holes to post a 66 and was tied for fifth with double heart transplant recipient Erik Compton, Greg Owen of England, Mark Hubbard and Brian Davis of England, who holed his second shot on the 11th hole from 72 yards for an eagle.
Dustin Johnson carded a bogey-free 67 and was in a tie for 10th with Jason Day of Australia, K.J. Choi of South Korea and nine others.
