J.B. Holmes started with an eagle and posted an 8-under-par 64 at Pebble Beach to tie Justin Hicks for the lead after one round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in perfect weather on the Monterey Peninsula.
Holmes, who lost to Jason Day in a playoff last week at the Farmers Insurance Open, wedged his second shot of the day into the hole from 123 yards after starting at No. 10, and added seven birdies in his round.
“It was a great day for me,” said Holmes, who has won three times on the PGA Tour but has been slowed by injuries in recent years. “It was a beautiful day and any time you can play this course on a nice day, it’s great.
“I was hitting the ball well and getting my wedges close. My game felt good last week and the same coming in here, so I just took it from there. I feel good, my body feels good. This game is hard enough as it is … but I’ve been healthy now for over a year.”
The 40-year-old Hicks, who has never won on the PGA Tour but has two victories on what is now the Web.com Tour, punctuated his bogey-free 64 with an 18-foot eagle putt on the famous 18th hole at Pebble.
Jim Furyk, playing for the first time this year on the PGA Tour, Brandt Snedeker and Chesson Hadley posted 7-under 64s at on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club and were tied for third with John Daly, Dudley Hart and J.J, Henry, who posted 7-under 65s at Pebble.
Alex Prugh recorded the best round at Spyglass Hill, a 6-under 66, and was tied for ninth with Max Homa of Valencia and Cal, and Pat Perez of San Diego, who had 6-under 66s at Pebble, and Rod Pampling of Australia, Nick Watney of Sacramento and Fresno State, and Matt Jones of Australia, who all had 6-under 65s at Monterey Peninsula CC.
