Matt Kuchar has played often but seldom really well in what now is the Genesis Invitational, but it was a different story on Thursday.
The 41-year-old Kuchar sank two birdie putts of about 30 feet while posting a bogey-free, 7-under-par 64 to take a three-stroke lead over five golfers after one round at Riviera Country Club www.therivieracountryclub.com in Pacific Palisades.
“It’s by far the best I’ve every played here, but it’s also the best conditions I’ve ever had here,” said Kooch, whose tie for eighth in 2016 is his only top-10 finish in 13 starts in the Los Angeles-area event on the PGA Tour. “The weather, the wind were perfect and the course is in immaculate condition. It was fun to play out there today.
“It was good to see a couple of long putts go in on 18 and 8 for birdies. You’re just hoping to make pars on those holes and to sneak away with birdies was great for the scorecard.
“To go to Singapore recently and win gave me some positive vibes that have carried over to this week.”
Russell Henley holed out from 40 feet for an eagle on the first hole to kick-start a 67 and is tied for second with Kyoung-Hoon Lee of South Korea, who made a 20-foot birdie putt at No. 17, Wyndham Clark, Adam Schenk and Harold Varner III.
Top-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland sank a five-foot eagle putt at No. 1 to start a 68 and is tied in a huge toe for seventh with sixth-ranked Patrick Cantlay of Los Alamitos and UCLA, Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis, Jason Day of Australia, Patrick Reed, Carlos Ortiz of Mexico, Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain, Andrew Landry and Joel Dahmen.
Eighth-ranked Tiger Woods, the tournament host, holed a 25-foot eagle putt on the first hole to start his 69 and is in a tie for 17th that includes second-ranked Brooks Koepka, 10th-ranked Justin Rose of England and defending champion J.B. Holmes.
Third-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain is tied for 33rd at 70, while fifth-ranked Dustin Johnson, three-time Genesis winner Bubba Watson, two-time Riviera winner Phil Mickelson and ninth-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State are tied for 65th at 72, and four-ranked Justin Thomas struggled to a 74 and is tied for 97th.
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