Marc Leishman rode two eagles to the top of the leaderboard in the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson.
The 34-year-old Aussie posted a career-best 10-under-par 61 to take a three-stroke lead over J.J. Spaun and Jimmy Walker at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, where the tournament is being played for the first time after 35 years across-town at TPC Las Colinas at Four Seasons Resort.
“I played very well over there (but) when I got here and saw instantly, you know, was happy that we’re here and it’s just a cool spot,” said Leishman, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, who sank a three-foot eagle putt on the first hole and added another from 13 feet at No. 14.
“I would’ve been this place’s harshest critic just because I love that other place at Las Colinas. But I got here and looked out past the clubhouse and thought, ‘This is going to be really good.’ I enjoyed it today. … 61, I’ll take that any day.”
Leishman missed by one stroke the course record of 60 set by Sam Snead in 1957 and equaled by Arron Oberholser in 2006 and Keegan Bradley in 2013.
Spaun, from Los Angeles and San Diego State, made six birdies in a span of seven holes through No. 8 while finishing off a bogey-free 64 on the front nine, while Walker sank a five-foot eagle putt on the first hole to kick-start his bogey-free 64.
Aaron Wise of Lake Elsinore collected seven birdies in a 65 and is tied for fourth with Jonathan Byrd, Sam Saunders, Keith Mitchell, Peter Uihlein, Abraham Ancer of Mexico, Ethan Tracy and Tyler Duncan.
Defending champion Billy Horschel shot 68 and is tied for 44th, third-ranked Jordan Spieth is tied for 53rd at 69 and ninth-ranked Hideki Matsuyama of Japan is tied for 120th at 72.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.
