May 24 (Reuters) – Former champion Zach Johnson rattled up
four consecutive birdies in hot, blustery conditions en route to
an early one-shot lead in Thursday’s opening round of the
Colonial Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas.
The 36-year-old American fired a flawless six-under-par 64
at Colonial Country Club where he won the 2010 title by three
shots to claim his seventh victory on the PGA Tour.
As temperatures topped 90 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius), Johnson
covered his front nine in a sizzling five-under 30 after
launching his birdie run at the par-three 13th before ending the
day a stroke in front of PGA Tour rookie Harris English.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia saved par from greenside bunkers on
his last two holes for an opening 66, finishing level with
Americans Chris DiMarco and Tommy Gainey.
Three more Americans – Ryan Moore, Daniel Summerhays and
Roberto Castro – were a further stroke back on 67.
Johnson, who has not triumphed on the PGA Tour since his
2010 win at Colonial, set the tone for a memorable day with a
40-foot birdie putt on his opening hole, the par-four 10th.
He then sank putts from between 14 and 22 feet to birdie the
13th, 14th, 15th and 16th before reaching the turn in five
under.
Though he picked up just one more shot, at the par-four
third, as winds gusted up to 30 mph (48 kph), Johnson was
delighted with his round.
“Today was great,” the 2007 Masters champion told reporters.
“I just hit some quality shots. I’ve got zero complaints.”
In-form American Jason Dufner, winner of the Byron Nelson
Championship on Sunday who is seeking a third PGA Tour victory
in just four weeks, was among the day’s late starters.
American David Toms, who won last year’s Colonial
Invitational by one shot over South Korean Charlie Wi, launched
his title defence with a 74.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by
Frank Pingue)
