Lucas Glover has won only once on the PGA Tour since capturing the 2009 U.S. Open, but he found that old form in the first round of the rain-delayed Shell Houston Open.
The 38-year-old Glover (pictured) collected five straight birdies in the middle of his bogey-free 7-under-par 65 and was tied for the clubhouse lead with Kevin Tway when darkness halted play on the Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
Rookie Sam Ryder actually held the lead at 8-under, making four birdies in six holes through 15 holes when play ended for the day, and will be back with much of the afternoon wave to finish round one Friday morning.
“I hit it nice all day,” said Glover, whose third and final victory to date came in the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship. “I missed some birdie chances early but then got hot to finished my front nine with four in a role and added one more. It was good.
“I hit fairways and greens, and made some putts. It’s the best I’ve putted in a long time. I made a change to my routine, cutting out the practice stroke, after the third round at Bay Hill (two weeks ago) and it seemed to free me up.
“I putted well in the final round and it continued today.”
Ryder, who won the 2017 Pinnacle Bank Championship on the Web.com Tour while earning his PGA Tour card, had four birdies on each nine in what so far is a bogey-free round, while Tway matched Glover’s bogey-free 65 and Beau Hossler of Rancho Santa Margarita was 7-under through 16 holes when darkness came.
Eighth-ranked Rickie Fowler of Murrieta carded a 66 and is tied for fifth with Rod Pampling of Australia, Julian Suri and Ryan Armour, who matched that score, and Paul Dunne of Ireland, who was 6-under through 14 when the end came.
Steve Stricker shot 67 and is in a massive tie for 10th with Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Brandt Snedeker, Grayson Murray, Shawn Stefani, Jason Kokrak, Seamus Power of Ireland, Brett Stegmaier, Greg Chalmer of Australia, Michael Thompson, Keith Mitchell and Bud Cauley.
Bronson Burgoon, Stephan Jaeger of Germany and Roberto Diaz all were at 5-under through 13 holes and in the tie for 10th.
Fourth-ranked Jordan Spieth totaled 68 and was in a tie for 26th that included fifth-ranked Justin Rose of England and Phil Mickelson, whose only hiccup was a double-bogey 5 on the 14th hole.
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