Clubhouse leader Davis Thompson tied the tournament 18-hole scoring record with a 9-under 63 on the opening day of the Rocket Mortgage Classic (previous 63s all came in 2019: Nate Lashley/R1, J.T. Poston/R2, Lashley/R3).
His previous-low score in 16 prior rounds on the PGA Tour was a 4-under 66 as an amateur in the final round of 2019 The RSM Classic (T23/PGA Tour debut)
Davis was making his seventh career start on the PGA Tour and third since turning professional in June (professional results: T35/Palmetto Championship at Congaree, MC/Travelers Championship).
He is competing on a sponsor exemption.
He was named the 2021 SEC Player of the Year at the University of Georgia and finished No. 2 in the inaugural PGA Tour University ranking.
Si Woo Kim and Satoshi Kodaira shot 67s for tied seventh position to emerge as leading Asians after the first round. Anirban carded a one-under.
Kodaira has finished in the top-20 in three of his last four starts while Kim, who will represent Korea in the Tokyo Olympics later this month, is chasing his second win of the season after claiming his third Tour victory at The American Express in January.
After finishing T10 last week, Jason Day sank seven birdies for a 67 for T7. He has three top-10s this season and is chasing his 13th Tour title and first since the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship.
Brandon Hagy’s 7-under 65 was his first par-or-better first-round score in his last eight individual stroke-play events.
Tom Lewis (T2/-7) was making his 45th career start on the PGA Tour; his best finish to date us T2 at the 2020 World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational (career-low 61 in R3)
In his only prior start at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Joaquin Niemann (T2/-7) finished T5 in 2019.
2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic runner-up Matthew Wolff recorded a 5-under 67, highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 17th.
Text courtesy: PGA Tour
ReadMore:- Singapore Open returns with an enhanced prize purse
