Robert Streb posted a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Patrick Reed and Kevin Chappell after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.
The 28-year-old Streb, who captured the McGladrey Classic early in the 2014-15 season for his first PGA Tour victory, birdied the first two holes and four of the first eight after starting on the back nine, before adding three more on the front.
“It’s the first time in a while I feel like I have my putter working,” Streb said, adding that he made a slight adjustment to his putting grip last week at the Players Championship, moving his hands slightly forward at address.
“Last week was the first time in a while I felt like I had putted pretty solid. Sometimes you get rolling. Everything is kind of trending the right way at the moment.”
Reed, who made four straight birdies through No. 8, was tied for the lead until he missed the green with his tee shot and made a bogey-4 on the 17th hole in his 66, while Chappell, from Fresno and UCLA, holed a 37-foot eagle putt from the fringe on No. 7.
Local favorite Webb Simpson shot 67 and was tied for fourth with Ricky Barnes of Stockton, Michael Thompson, Stewart Cink, Chesson Hadley and Billy Hurley III.
Top-ranked Rory McIlroy was among the leaders until hitting his tee shot into the water on the 17th hole en route to a double-bogey 5 and was tied for 30th at 70, while defending champion J.B. Holmes was tied for 13th at 69 and Phil Mickelson was tied for 41st at 71.
