Harris English hasn’t won since the 2013 Mayakoba Golf Classic, but now he’s put himself in position to win it again.
The 30-year-old English, who has slumped in recent seasons, went out early and carded a bogey-free, 7-under-par 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Vaughn Taylor at El Camaleon Golf Club https://mayakobagolf.com › camaleon at Mayakoba Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
“It’s been a lot of ball-striking,” English said of his resurgence, which includes three top-10 finishes in four tournaments this season. “Starting at the Greenbrier this year, I think I was top-10 in greens in regulation and that’s been a huge stat.
“That’s what I did really well my first couple years on Tour and haven’t done so well in that the past couple seasons. But really worked with my coach, Justin Parsons, back home in Sea Island, and really just doing what I did back in college and my first couple years on Tour.
“I think I missed two greens today. And if you do that every day out here, you’re going to take it deep.”
Tournament officials hope to get in 36 holes to finish the tournament on Sunday after rain wiped out the entire first round on Thursday, but a Monday finish is possible.
English birdied three straight holes through No. 4 and added four more birdies, including a chip-in on the final hole to record the lowest 36-hole score of his career, 13-under 219.
Taylor, 43, who claimed the last of this three PGA Tour victories in the 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, had four birdies on the front nine in a 66, while Brendon Todd shot 68 and is two shots back in third.
First-round leader Danny Lee of New Zealand followed his 62 with a 70 and is three down in a tie for fourth with rookie Robby Shelton, who birdied the last hole for a 66, and Adam Long, winner of the Desert Classic early this year, who had five straight birdies through No. 8 en route to a 69.
Pat Perez of San Diego posted a 65 despite a late bogey and is four strokes behind in a tie for seventh with Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico, who had a 67, and Chris Baker, who finished at 69.
Carlos Ortiz of Mexico eagled the 13th hole on the way to a 65 and is five back in a tie for 10th with two-time major champion Zach Johnson, whose 70 was marred by a double-bogey 7 that he salvaged with a chip-in at No. 13.
Defending champion Matt Kuchar is tied for 23rd after a 68.
Among those who missed the cut were tournament favorites Jason Day of Australia (70-77—147, missing by seven) and Tony Finau (70-74—144, falling five short), who both are playing in the Presidents Cup next month in Australia.
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