Patrick Reed shot a blistering 9-under-par 63 on the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West in La Quinta to take a one-stroke lead over Ryan Palmer, Justin Hicks, Daniel Summerhays and Charley Hoffman after one round of the Humana Challenge.
Reed started on the 10th hole and reeled off five birdies while playing the back nine in 5-under 30, before adding four birdies on the front in his bogey-free round. He had five consecutive birdies from the 16th through second holes.
“I drove it lousy today, but even though I didn’t hit many fairways, I kept it in play and missed it in the right spots,” said Reed, who claimed his first PGA Tour victory last year when he beat Jordan Spieth in a playoff at the Wyndham Championship.
“On the greens, it was just one of those days where every time I looked at the line, it was the right one and I got hot with the putter.”
Palmer birdied the last six holes on the Palmer Course to shoot 64, Hicks had an eagle and six birdies on the Jack Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West, Summerhays birdied seven of his last 10 holes on the Nicklaus Course and Hoffman had an eagle and six birdies at La Quinta Country Club.
Charlie Wi lipped out a 38-foot eagle putt on the final hole of the Palmer Course and settled for a birdie to finish at 65 in a tie for sixth that included Zach Johnson, winner of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions two weeks ago, who birdied five of his first 10 holes in a bogey-free round at La Quinta Country Club.
