Sergio Garcia had an eventful day at PGA National.
The Spaniard, after missing the cut last week in the Northern Trust Open, holed his second shot for an eagle on the second hole, had a near encounter with an alligator and made a tap-in birdie on the 18th hole to shoot 5-under-par 65, tying Michael Thompson for the first-round lead in the Honda Classic.
Garcia hit his tee shot into shallow water on the sixth hole, so he took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants legs and hit the ball back into play, while keeping his eyes on an alligator in the lake.
“I was more worried about the alligator that was on the other side of the island than getting (the ball) out of the water,” said Garcia, who nearly saved par but made his only bogey of the round on the hole. “The ball, I could see probably half of it, so I knew that I could get it out. Almost made 4, which would have been a great 4. I’m not going to lie, I was happy with a 5.
“I didn’t come in with a lot of confidence. For sure, you are wondering a little bit, because usually my long game, it’s up there, and even when I’m not playing great, I still can manage to get around it. But last week, I felt out of sorts. I didn’t know what was going on.”
Thompson, who claimed his only PGA Tour victory in this tournament three years ago, birdied two of the last four holes, sinking an 11-foot putt at No. 18 to close out his 65.
Rickie Fowler, playing alongside Garcia, also birdied the final hole in a bogey-free 66 and was tied for third with William McGirt, who birdied the last three holes.
Shane Lowry of Ireland knocked in a four-foot eagle putt on the last hole to shoot 67 and was tied for fifth with Jimmy Walker, George McNeill, David Lingmerth of Sweden and Justin Hicks.
Jason Dufner birdied three of the last four holes to post a 68 and was tied for 10th with Si Woo Kim of South Korea, Adam Hadwin of Canada and Erik Compton.
Phil Mickelson was 3-under after nine holes but didn’t make a birdie on the back nine and was tied for 14th at 69, Adam Scott of Australia was tied for 23rd at 70 and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland was tied for 65th at 72.
