Ryan Palmer carded a bogey-free 6-under-par 64 to tie Brooks Koepka and Greg Owen of England for the first-round lead in the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn.
Palmer, who has won three times on the PGA Tour but not since the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii, recorded six birdies on his first 11 holes after starting on the back nine before finishing with seven straight pars.
“I drove it well, hit my irons real well, but I really got it done with my putting,” said Palmer, whose best finish this season was a tie for second in the Waste Management Phoenix Open behind Koepka. “I spent about half and hour on the practice green before the round and really got the speed down.
“I put myself in some tough positions on the back nine, but was able to get up-and-down with some good putts. Pars like that can save a round and to shoot 64 is a good feeling.”
Owen, who has never won on the PGA Tour but captured the 2003 Daily Telegraph British Masters, also played bogey free and made four consecutive birdies through No. 1 after also starting on the 10th hole.
Koepka, whose victory in Phoenix in February was his first on the PGA Tour, birdied three of his last four holes and had six birdies in all while finishing his round on the back nine.
Scott Brown had a bogey-free 65 and was tied for fourth with Steven Alker of New Zealand, who had six birdies on the back nine, Brian Davis of England and Richard Sterne of South Africa,
Defending champion Ben Crane birdied seven of his first 11 holes and posted a 66 that left him tied for eighth with Tommy Gainey, Tom Gillis, Alex Prugh and Fabian Gomez of Argentina.
Phil Mickelson birdied four of his first seven holes before fading to finish with a 68 that left him tied for 20th, while Dustin Johnson, who won the 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic, withdrew because of an illness when he was 3-over-par after nine holes.
