Richy Werenski has never won on the PGA Tour, but he finds himself atop the leaderboard after the opening round for the first time.
The 28-year-old Werenski posted an 8-under-par 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Michael Thompson in the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., the seventh event with no spectators since the restart after a shutdown in March because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s always fun to play well,” said Werenski, who has won four times as a pro including the 2016 BMW Charity Pro-Am on what now is the Korn Ferry Tour. “This is definitely a second-shot golf course and I was able to hit my approach shots really well, which always helps, especially when it’s a little breezy like this.
“I have a good feeling (the greens will) get nice and firm as the week goes on, but you start it online, it will stay there. They’re really good. To play a round like I did today, you’ve got to make the putts, but … I feel like my irons have really been coming along.”
Werenski, came closest to winning on the PGA Tour when he lost to Chris Stroud in a playoff at the 2017 Barracuda Championship and tied for third at the Greenbrier early this season, collected five birdies on the front nine and his only bogey at No. 8 before making four more birdies coming home.
Thompson, 35, who won the 2013 Honda Classic for his only victory on the PGA Tour, birdied five of his first 10 holes after starting his bogey-free 64 on the back nine.
“I played really solid golf and had a really good flow going,” said Thompson, who also won the 2016 Albertson Boise Open on what was then the Web.com Tour and the 2010 Michelob Ultra Classic on the Hooters Tour. “I was really seeing the shots and the putts well.
“It was not perfect, but it’s always nice to go out and put up a good number, and get off to a good start heading toward the weekend. I just want to keep playing well and give myself a chance to win on Sunday.”
Nick Watney of Davis and Fresno State, the first PGA Tour player to test positive for Covid-19 five weeks ago, shot 65 in his second tournament back and is tied for third with defending champion Matthew Wolff of Agoura Hills, Max Homa of Valencia and Cal, Ryan Moore, Xinjun Zhang of China, Bo Hoag and Tony Finau, who finished eighth in the Memorial last week.
“I’m trying to put that to bed, get past it and hopefully play some nice golf after coming down with that,” Watney said. “It’s great to be up there after playing a good round as opposed to just other things.
“I tested positive for the antibodies and not the virus. I can’t describe what it feels like to be the first guy. I thought I was being cautious and careful, so it was a surprise. I’m glad to be on the other side of it.”
Patrick Rodgers of Stanford totaled 66 and is tied for 10th with Brendon de Jonge of South Africa, Kyle Stanley, Bronson Burgoon, Talor Gooch, Robert Garrigus, Chris Kirk, Aaron Baddeley of Australia, Charl Schwartzel of South Africa and Bo Van Pelt, who made a hole in one from 195 yards at No. 8.
Sixth-ranked Brooks Koepka, still battling a left knee injury, is tied for 57th after a 70, while fourth-ranked Dustin Johnson struggled to a 78 after going 80-80 last week to miss the cut in the Memorial, and this time withdrew because of back injury.
Johnson said he still plans to play in the WGC-Fed Ex St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., and the PGA Championship at the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco the next two weeks.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
