Harris English and Tom Lewis of England, who both had to play on the Korn Ferry Tour last season to regain their PGA Tour status, are in the field at the Honda Classic this week on sponsor’s exemptions and tied for the lead after one round.
English and Lewis posted 4-under-par 66s and hold a one-stroke lead over five players on the Champion Course at PGA National Resort and Spa www.pgaresort.com in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
“I’m very appreciative of tournament officials for giving me a spot,” said English, who has won twice on the PGA Tour. “I played in the pro-am on Monday and did a clinic on Tuesday, so I feel like I’m really part of this tournament.
“I feel very good about my round. I didn’t play my best, but it was the kind of day where you just had to grind it out. It was windy, and the course played tough. You had to pick your spots to be aggressive. I was just trying to get the ball within 15-20 feet of the hole and my putter was hot today.”
English sank a 27-foot eagle putt on the third hole and caught Lewis at the top of the leaderboard by holing a 10-foot birdie putt at No. 18.
Lewis posted one of two bogey-free rounds on day one, also making an eagle at No. 3 with a 10-foot putt and finishing his day with a nine-foot birdie putt on the last hole, scrambling after getting a free drop when he hit his drive into the right rough.
“I’m enjoying this,” said Lewis, who won the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Championship. “ … I struggled for a while. I always expected great things to happen, and as soon as something bad happened, or average happened, I beat myself up.
“I think that’s something where I’ve matured and grown over the years. I’m still going to always battle that. It’s just my personality. But the more fun I can have out there, the better. … Hopefully my time (to win) can come this week and if not, in the near future.”
Two-time major champion Zach Johnson made three birdies in four holes through No. 15 and shot 67 to tie for third with Cameron Tringale of Mission Viejo, Lee Westwood of England and J.T. Poston, who all had two birdies on each nine, and Brian Stuard, who collected six birdies but also had three bogeys.
Brendan Steele of Idyllwild and UC Riverside had four birdies and a double bogey in a 68 and is tied for eighth with Wyndham Clark, who sank a 13-foot eagle putt on the third hole, and Doc Redman, who was tied for the lead before making bogeys on two of the last three holes.
Reigning British Open champion Shane Lowry of Ireland is tied for 11th after a 69, while U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland shot 70 and is in a tie for 23rd that includes 2014 Honda champion Russell Henley and 2013 winner Michael Thompson.
Justin Rose of England, who has slipped to No. 13 in the World Golf Rankings, totaled 72 and is in a tie for 63rd that includes two-time Honda champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland.
Second-ranked Brooks Koepka is tied for 103rd after making a triple bogey and a double bogey in a 74, defending champion Keith Mitchell is tied for 120th at 75 and 2017 Honda champ Rickie Fowler stumbled to a 76 and is tied for 132nd.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
