William McGirt claimed his first PGA Tour victory last month in the Memorial and it was more of the same when he returned to Ohio for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The 37-year-old McGirt shot 6-under-par 64 to take a three-stroke lead over top-ranked Jason Day of Australia, Jimmy Walker and Emiliano Grillo of Argentina after one round at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
“Length is not everything out here,” said McGirt, who made a 14-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and closed with a 46-footer for par on the last, also from off the green. “You have to drive it in the fairway. You have to drive it in the correct spots in the fairways to be able to attack pins. I love it because you can’t stand up there and just hit it as hard as you want, go find it and hack it on the green. It’s an old, traditional style golf course, which I absolutely love.
“Actually felt better with the putter from 35 or 40 feet than I did from six feet. … Maybe it’s something with Ohio I like.”
Day, who has won three times this season, made his only bogey on the fourth hole of a 67, while Grillo holed a 16-foot eagle putt on the second hole while matching that score, and Walker made his lone bogey at No. 7 and finished with eight straight pars.
Second-ranked Jordan Spieth again battled with his swing, but then finished with four consecutive birdies to post a 68 and was tied for fifth with Rickie Fowler, who made four birdies in seven holes through No. 8, Anirban Lahiri of India and Charley Hoffman of Poway.
“I finally hit some greens,” said Spieth, who has two victories this season. “It was nice to make some par saves, but I finally hit the greens and made some birdies. I could have shot 4- or 5-over, but was able to grind it out on some tough holes and I’m in good shape.”
Billy Hurley III, who claimed his first PGA Tour victory last week in the Quicken Loans National, carded a 69 and was tied for ninth with U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Harris English, Scott Piercy, Branden Grace of South Africa, Justin Rose of England, Kevin Kisner and Vaughn Taylor.
Adam Scott of Australia was tied for 26th at 71, Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson were in a tie for 33rd at 72, Phil Mickelson was tied for 37th at 73 and defending champion Shane Lowry of Ireland was tied for 51st at 76.
