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Pavin takes 1st-round lead in SAS

CARY, N.C. (AP)—Corey Pavin shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to take aone-stroke lead in the opening round of the SAS Championship.

Nick Price, Gary Hallberg, Kenny Perry and defending champion Russ Cochranwere tied for second at the Champions Tour event held at the 7,137-yardPrestonwood Country Club.

J.L. Lewis, Peter Senior, Jeff Sluman and Rod Spittle all shot 67.

Tom Lehman, who leads the race for the Charles Schwab Cup and its $1 millionpayday, was among a group tied at 3-under. Lehman is trying to become the firstgolfer to ever win player of the year honors on the Nationwide, PGA andChampions tours.

Play was delayed in the afternoon for 2 hours, 14 minutes when athunderstorm moved through the area.

Tour Report: Watney quietly moving up the ranks (PGATOUR.com)

There has been a Nick Watney sighting in Las Vegas.

The highest-rated player in this week’s field (No. 3 on the money list) has been as under-the-radar as possible during the first two rounds in Las Vegas. His first-round 65 left him two shots out of the lead Thursday and, after starting 1-over through six holes, Watney has turned things around with tap-in birdies on the drivable par-4 14th and the par-5 15th to reach 3 under on his round.

Watney, Carl Pettersson and Boo Weekley are the top three on the course, all tied at 9 under, three shots off the pace. Six others on the course are at 8 under with opportunities to gain ground before the weekend in Vegas.

Herron putting experience to good use

In this year of the young gun, there’s still something to be said for experience.

Making his 13th start in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Childern Open, 41-year-old Tim Herron is 11 under through two rounds, just one shot off the pace. He’s one of just two 40-somethings among the 11 players at 10 under or better.

Herron

Herron attributes his early success at TPC Summerlin to his history at the course.

“I know it’s a shootout on the weekend, so I’m just hoping to keep rolling the putts,” he said. “Today I made a lot of 15, 20-footers. I know the greens pretty well, so I need to stay aggressive with the putting.”

Herron had a streak of three consecutive top-30 finishes at Summerlin snapped last year when he missed the cut after a pair of 71s. After a 65-66 start, his best first two rounds here since 2003, the four-time PGA TOUR winner is positioned to move up from No. 105 on the money list and secure his TOUR card for 2012.

Unlikely birdie sparks Na in Round 2

Halleran/Getty ImagesKevin Na birdied seven of his last 10 holes Friday to gain a share of the 36-hole lead.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

Kevin Na birdied seven of his last 10 holes Friday to reach 12 under and tie Jhonattan Vegas and Charlie Wi atop the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open leaderboard.

Na opened with four consecutive pars and seven in eight holes before stealing a shot at the par-5 ninth to jump-start his round.

“On 9 I was just thinking hit the fairway and get a chance at eagle and I hit it in the rough,” Na said. “Same spot I did yesterday. It’s the thickest part — thickest rough on the golf course. I had no shot, laid up. And I hit an 8-iron to about a foot and that’s where I think I got my round going.”

After that birdie, the Las Vegas resident’s confidence soared and he began attacking pins. Na kept his momentum going with a 1-foot, 7-inch birdie putt on No. 10 and went on to make six birdies on his back nine.

“I turned around and hit it to a foot on 10, and 12 I hit it like six feet and made it,” Na said. “Three-and-a-half feet, chipped from three and a half feet, made it; 10 feet, made it. Actually drivable par-4 is one I felt like I left one out there, and then obviously again on the par-5, chipped it to about four or five feet and made it.”

Na, making his first start since missing the cut at both The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship, posted his best round in 18 tries at TPC Summerlin with an 8-under 63.

“I got some good rest coming into this week,” he said. “I was just hoping to make some putts today because I was hitting the ball really well. Yesterday I hit it really well. I felt like I could have scored better, and today the only difference was I was making putts.”

Strong pro-am helps Wi to 36-hole lead

Halleran/Getty ImagesCharlie Wi is chasing his first top-10 finish since May.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

It’s been an awkward stretch for Charlie Wi.

This year, he fell short of qualifying for the BMW Championship — the third leg of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup — for the first time since 2007 and now he’s making his first appearance in this event since 2008.

Along with the scheduling changes, Wi got his week kick started during the Wednesday pro-am at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He carried that momentum into the tournament and is 12 under, tied with Jhonattan Vegas and Kevin Na for the lead, after 36 holes.

“I made nine birdies on Wednesday and everything felt really good,” Wi said. “I was able to carry that over. I know guys are pretty shy about playing well on Wednesdays, but score any time when you’re out there.”

Wi’s season has been marked by inconsistency, as well. Aside from his runner-up finish to David Toms at The Crowne Plaza Invitational, Wi has just three top-25 finishes in his other 22 starts this year.

“I’ve had a pretty up-and-down this year, and I want to go out with a bang, make sure my game is ready for next year,” Wi said. “And you know, I worked really hard the last three weeks, so I want to see how — I want to perform well the next three weeks, carry that into 2012.”

One thing constant the four-time PGA TOUR runner-up always carries with him is his putter. The flatstick, which has Wi rated 3rd on the TOUR in Strokes Gained – Putting, has been there again for Wi through the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, where he is tied for the field lead with 14 birdies. His 26 putts-per-round average through two days has been key to his tying for the 36-hole lead.

“Golf is a funny game,” he said. “You could be playing well, but that doesn’t necessarily turn into a lot of birdies. I was able to make some putts out there, and I think people that are scoring well out there are the ones making putts.”

Back nine still Summerlin’s scoring nine

The back nine at TPC Summerlin played 1.5 strokes easier in relation to par than the front nine during the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. That average is skewing even more in the favor of the home nine Friday, at least with those posting the day’s best scores.

Six players have reached the clubhouse with scores of 6 under or better in their second rounds. Those players are a combined 30 under on the back nine and just 14 under on the front.

Trevor Immelman Is putting together a back nine that has him fitting right in.

With five consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 16, the 2008 Masters Champion has the best round of the afternoon to this point and is three shots out of the lead shared by Kevin Na, Charlie Wi and Jhonattan Vegas.

Immelman, who hasn’t notched a top-10 finish since the 2008 TOUR Championship, is now tied for 12th, and has 10 holes remaining in his second round.

Joining him at 5 under this afternoon is D.J. Trahan. Trahan entered the day at 1 over and had five birdies on the back nine at TPC Summerlin to move inside the current projected cut line.

Currently there are 11 players at 3 under or better in the afternoon wave. Of those 11, nine started their rounds on the back nine. Only Joe Ogilvie (-3 through 10) and Stephen Ames (-3 through are bucking the trend.

Early Round 1 leaders set to take course

Before Jhonattan Vegas, William McGirt, Hunter Haas and anyone else inside the current top 10 took the course Thursday, the guys listed below were your leaders. The majority of the 10 listed below are fighting for spots inside the top 125 on the money list.

Below are the players who posted scores of 65 or better in Round 1 that have afternoon tee times Friday. Track them all afternoon to see who can string together back-to-back good rounds at TPC Summerlin and regain their position near the top of the leaderboard.

PlayerMoneyrankScoreTee timeStartingholeShot TrackerNathan Green178th7 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followSteve Flesch122nd6 under2:39 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followMatt Jones121st6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followRod Pampling119th6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followHarrison Frazar64th6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followNick Watney3rd6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followDerek Lamely194th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followVaughn Taylor148th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followBlake Adams82nd6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followGarrett Willis141st6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to follow

Haas ties course record after 59 threat

Halleran/Getty ImagesA Vegas 59 wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas, but his 61 puts him into contention.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

A year after the PGA TOUR saw two 59s in one season, Hunter Haas threatened the number again at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Haas played his final four holes at even par Friday after getting to 10 under on the par-71 layout at TPC Summerlin. That number is where he would finish up, posting at 61 that ties Tag Ridings and Davis Love III for the course record.

It could have been so much more if not for a bogey on No. 6, his 15th hole of the day, that halted his momentum.

“I know I had a chance,” Haas said. “After I birdied the fourth or fifth hole, you know, at the par 3 I knew I had at least three good birdie opportunities coming in … And I screwed it up.”

After making the turn in 30, Haas started the front nine with four birdies on his first five holes. Standing in the middle of TPC Summerlin’s sixth fairway with a wedge in his hands, Haas was in position to attack for one of the two birdies he would need on the final four holes to shoot the sixth 59 in PGA TOUR history.

His wedge shot fell 34 yards short and right of the pin in the right rough, just his second missed green of the day. Then the pitch settled 18 feet from the pin. Two putts later, Haas had his first bogey of the day and his hopes of a 59 were all but dashed.

“The one bogey I had I was in the middle of the fairway,” he said. “It’s kind of like yesterday. I made two bogeys from the middle of the fairway with wedge in my hand, and that’s kind of disappointing. I did the same today. That’s three bogeys with a wedge in my hand (this week).”

Aside from the miss on No. 6, Haas’ ball striking on approach shots was nearly flawless on Friday. The 34-year-old Texan hit nine fairways in Round 2 and notched 16 greens in regulation.

“I’m still trying to tighten up my ball striking,” Haas said. “I hit a few errant shots, but there’s a lot of short irons out there on this golf course. If you drive your ball well, you’re probably going to have a lot of birdie opportunities.”

Haas was leaving himself great opportunities and converting. Of his nine second-round birdies, six came from inside 8 feet.

“I was burning (the edges) pretty good yesterday, but honestly, I just wasn’t happy with the way I hit my wedges, and I was a little frustrated,” Haas said. “But I hit probably three or four shots pretty close today, and I just felt good over the putts.”

Haas will the weekend at TPC Summerlin at least two shots off the pace, needing to continue striking the ball well to get to the top of the leaderboard. His best two-round stretch of the 2011 season up to this point came in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Viking Classic where he went 66-64 and went on to finish in a tie for 4th.

“We’ll see if I can go out and do what I did today (again) tomorrow,” Haas said. “And it was tough, but I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Lead continues to change hands

It started with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt. Then Brendan Steele surged ahead. Then Hunter Haas was briefly on top as he chased a 59.

Now Kevin Na, in the clubhouse after an 8-under 63, and Vegas, who tapped in for a birdie on No. 9 to complete a 67, are tied for the lead at 12 under. Joining them in the dozen-under club, but still on the course, is Charlie Wi. The South Korean is 5 under for the day and is about to tee off on the 444-yard par-4 18th.

If Wi can’t move ahead, maybe McGirt can. He’s at 10 under with four holes remaining in his second round. If neither Wi nor McGirt moves ahead, 12 under looks like it will be the number for at least a couple more hours.

Haas settles for 61, Na takes the lead

The PGA TOUR scoring record wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas on Friday in Las Vegas, but a share of the course record was.

Haas, who started his second round on No. 10, needed just two birdies over his final four holes Friday to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to reach the 59 mark. Unfortunately, he gave a shot away at TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 to get back to 10 under, but could not convert long putts on Nos. 8 (43-foot birdie try) and 9 (120-foot eagle attempt) to bring 59 back into the picture.

With his three-putt par on No. 9, Haas dropped to a 10-under 61, tying Tag Ridings (2004) and Davis Love III (2001) for the TPC Summerlin course record.

While Haas was making his final bid for a 59, Kevin Na birdied five of six holes to take a two-shot lead at 12 under. Na is playing the 18th at TPC Summerlin to close out his round.

Update: Haas bogeys No. 6, birdies No. 7

Hunter Haas’ bid for a 59 took a major hit with a bogey on TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole.

In ideal position, 153 yards from the pin after his tee shot, Haas missed the green short and right. From the rough, he pitched up to just inside 18 feet and just missed the long par-saver.

Haas’ 59 hopes didn’t go by the wayside with the bogey, though. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 and is back to 10 under with two holes remaining.

Haas heads to the tee on the par-3 8th, needing to go 2 under on his final two holes today for a piece of history.

Haas, who was even in his opening round, is at 10 under for the week and tied atop a crowded leaderboard with Kevin Na, Brendan Steele, Jhonattan Vegas, Tim Herron and William McGirt.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

There has been a Nick Watney sighting in Las Vegas. The highest-rated player in this week’s field (No. 3 on the money list) has been as under-the-radar as possible during the first two rounds in Las Vegas. His first-round 65 left him two shots out of the lead Thursday and, after starting 1-over through six […]

Tour Report: Unlikely birdie sparks Na in Round 2 (PGATOUR.com)

Halleran/Getty ImagesKevin Na birdied seven of his last 10 holes Friday to gain a share of the 36-hole lead.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

Kevin Na birdied seven of his last 10 holes Friday to reach 12 under and tie Jhonattan Vegas and Charlie Wi atop the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open leaderboard.

Na opened with four consecutive pars and seven in eight holes before stealing a shot at the par-5 ninth to jump-start his round.

“On 9 I was just thinking hit the fairway and get a chance at eagle and I hit it in the rough,” Na said. “Same spot I did yesterday. It’s the thickest part — thickest rough on the golf course. I had no shot, laid up. And I hit an 8-iron to about a foot and that’s where I think I got my round going.”

After that birdie, the Las Vegas resident’s confidence soared and he began attacking pins. Na kept his momentum going with a 1-foot, 7-inch birdie putt on No. 10 and went on to make six birdies on his back nine.

“I turned around and hit it to a foot on 10, and 12 I hit it like six feet and made it,” Na said. “Three-and-a-half feet, chipped from three and a half feet, made it; 10 feet, made it. Actually drivable par-4 is one I felt like I left one out there, and then obviously again on the par-5, chipped it to about four or five feet and made it.”

Na, making his first start since missing the cut at both The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship, posted his best round in 18 tries at TPC Summerlin with an 8-under 63.

“I got some good rest coming into this week,” he said. “I was just hoping to make some putts today because I was hitting the ball really well. Yesterday I hit it really well. I felt like I could have scored better, and today the only difference was I was making putts.”

Strong pro-am helps Wi to 36-hole lead

Halleran/Getty ImagesCharlie Wi is chasing his first top-10 finish since May.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

It’s been an awkward stretch for Charlie Wi.

This year, he fell short of qualifying for the BMW Championship — the third leg of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup — for the first time since 2007 and now he’s making his first appearance in this event since 2008.

Along with the scheduling changes, Wi got his week kick started during the Wednesday pro-am at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He carried that momentum into the tournament and is 12 under, tied with Jhonattan Vegas and Kevin Na for the lead, after 36 holes.

“I made nine birdies on Wednesday and everything felt really good,” Wi said. “I was able to carry that over. I know guys are pretty shy about playing well on Wednesdays, but score any time when you’re out there.”

Wi’s season has been marked by inconsistency, as well. Aside from his runner-up finish to David Toms at The Crowne Plaza Invitational, Wi has just three top-25 finishes in his other 22 starts this year.

“I’ve had a pretty up-and-down this year, and I want to go out with a bang, make sure my game is ready for next year,” Wi said. “And you know, I worked really hard the last three weeks, so I want to see how — I want to perform well the next three weeks, carry that into 2012.”

One thing constant the four-time PGA TOUR runner-up always carries with him is his putter. The flatstick, which has Wi rated 3rd on the TOUR in Strokes Gained – Putting, has been there again for Wi through the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, where he is tied for the field lead with 14 birdies. His 26 putts-per-round average through two days has been key to his tying for the 36-hole lead.

“Golf is a funny game,” he said. “You could be playing well, but that doesn’t necessarily turn into a lot of birdies. I was able to make some putts out there, and I think people that are scoring well out there are the ones making putts.”

Back nine still Summerlin’s scoring nine

The back nine at TPC Summerlin played 1.5 strokes easier in relation to par than the front nine during the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. That average is skewing even more in the favor of the home nine Friday, at least with those posting the day’s best scores.

Six players have reached the clubhouse with scores of 6 under or better in their second rounds. Those players are a combined 30 under on the back nine and just 14 under on the front.

Trevor Immelman Is putting together a back nine that has him fitting right in.

With five consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 16, the 2008 Masters Champion has the best round of the afternoon to this point and is three shots out of the lead shared by Kevin Na, Charlie Wi and Jhonattan Vegas.

Immelman, who hasn’t notched a top-10 finish since the 2008 TOUR Championship, is now tied for 12th, and has 10 holes remaining in his second round.

Joining him at 5 under this afternoon is D.J. Trahan. Trahan entered the day at 1 over and had five birdies on the back nine at TPC Summerlin to move inside the current projected cut line.

Currently there are 11 players at 3 under or better in the afternoon wave. Of those 11, nine started their rounds on the back nine. Only Joe Ogilvie (-3 through 10) and Stephen Ames (-3 through are bucking the trend.

Early Round 1 leaders set to take course

Before Jhonattan Vegas, William McGirt, Hunter Haas and anyone else inside the current top 10 took the course Thursday, the guys listed below were your leaders. The majority of the 10 listed below are fighting for spots inside the top 125 on the money list.

Below are the players who posted scores of 65 or better in Round 1 that have afternoon tee times Friday. Track them all afternoon to see who can string together back-to-back good rounds at TPC Summerlin and regain their position near the top of the leaderboard.

PlayerMoneyrankScoreTee timeStartingholeShot TrackerNathan Green178th7 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followSteve Flesch122nd6 under2:39 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followMatt Jones121st6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followRod Pampling119th6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followHarrison Frazar64th6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followNick Watney3rd6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followDerek Lamely194th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followVaughn Taylor148th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followBlake Adams82nd6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followGarrett Willis141st6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to follow

Haas ties course record after 59 threat

Halleran/Getty ImagesA Vegas 59 wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas, but his 61 puts him into contention.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

A year after the PGA TOUR saw two 59s in one season, Hunter Haas threatened the number again at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Haas played his final four holes at even par Friday after getting to 10 under on the par-71 layout at TPC Summerlin. That number is where he would finish up, posting at 61 that ties Tag Ridings and Davis Love III for the course record.

It could have been so much more if not for a bogey on No. 6, his 15th hole of the day, that halted his momentum.

“I know I had a chance,” Haas said. “After I birdied the fourth or fifth hole, you know, at the par 3 I knew I had at least three good birdie opportunities coming in … And I screwed it up.”

After making the turn in 30, Haas started the front nine with four birdies on his first five holes. Standing in the middle of TPC Summerlin’s sixth fairway with a wedge in his hands, Haas was in position to attack for one of the two birdies he would need on the final four holes to shoot the sixth 59 in PGA TOUR history.

His wedge shot fell 34 yards short and right of the pin in the right rough, just his second missed green of the day. Then the pitch settled 18 feet from the pin. Two putts later, Haas had his first bogey of the day and his hopes of a 59 were all but dashed.

“The one bogey I had I was in the middle of the fairway,” he said. “It’s kind of like yesterday. I made two bogeys from the middle of the fairway with wedge in my hand, and that’s kind of disappointing. I did the same today. That’s three bogeys with a wedge in my hand (this week).”

Aside from the miss on No. 6, Haas’ ball striking on approach shots was nearly flawless on Friday. The 34-year-old Texan hit nine fairways in Round 2 and notched 16 greens in regulation.

“I’m still trying to tighten up my ball striking,” Haas said. “I hit a few errant shots, but there’s a lot of short irons out there on this golf course. If you drive your ball well, you’re probably going to have a lot of birdie opportunities.”

Haas was leaving himself great opportunities and converting. Of his nine second-round birdies, six came from inside 8 feet.

“I was burning (the edges) pretty good yesterday, but honestly, I just wasn’t happy with the way I hit my wedges, and I was a little frustrated,” Haas said. “But I hit probably three or four shots pretty close today, and I just felt good over the putts.”

Haas will the weekend at TPC Summerlin at least two shots off the pace, needing to continue striking the ball well to get to the top of the leaderboard. His best two-round stretch of the 2011 season up to this point came in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Viking Classic where he went 66-64 and went on to finish in a tie for 4th.

“We’ll see if I can go out and do what I did today (again) tomorrow,” Haas said. “And it was tough, but I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Lead continues to change hands

It started with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt. Then Brendan Steele surged ahead. Then Hunter Haas was briefly on top as he chased a 59.

Now Kevin Na, in the clubhouse after an 8-under 63, and Vegas, who tapped in for a birdie on No. 9 to complete a 67, are tied for the lead at 12 under. Joining them in the dozen-under club, but still on the course, is Charlie Wi. The South Korean is 5 under for the day and is about to tee off on the 444-yard par-4 18th.

If Wi can’t move ahead, maybe McGirt can. He’s at 10 under with four holes remaining in his second round. If neither Wi nor McGirt moves ahead, 12 under looks like it will be the number for at least a couple more hours.

Haas settles for 61, Na takes the lead

The PGA TOUR scoring record wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas on Friday in Las Vegas, but a share of the course record was.

Haas, who started his second round on No. 10, needed just two birdies over his final four holes Friday to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to reach the 59 mark. Unfortunately, he gave a shot away at TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 to get back to 10 under, but could not convert long putts on Nos. 8 (43-foot birdie try) and 9 (120-foot eagle attempt) to bring 59 back into the picture.

With his three-putt par on No. 9, Haas dropped to a 10-under 61, tying Tag Ridings (2004) and Davis Love III (2001) for the TPC Summerlin course record.

While Haas was making his final bid for a 59, Kevin Na birdied five of six holes to take a two-shot lead at 12 under. Na is playing the 18th at TPC Summerlin to close out his round.

Update: Haas bogeys No. 6, birdies No. 7

Hunter Haas’ bid for a 59 took a major hit with a bogey on TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole.

In ideal position, 153 yards from the pin after his tee shot, Haas missed the green short and right. From the rough, he pitched up to just inside 18 feet and just missed the long par-saver.

Haas’ 59 hopes didn’t go by the wayside with the bogey, though. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 and is back to 10 under with two holes remaining.

Haas heads to the tee on the par-3 8th, needing to go 2 under on his final two holes today for a piece of history.

Haas, who was even in his opening round, is at 10 under for the week and tied atop a crowded leaderboard with Kevin Na, Brendan Steele, Jhonattan Vegas, Tim Herron and William McGirt.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Haas chasing a 59 at TPC Summerlin

The 59 watch is officially on at TPC Summerlin.

Hunter Haas is 10 under through 14 holes today in Las Vegas and in position to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to shoot 59 — or possibly the first to best it.

TPC Summerlin is a par-71 layout, meaning 2 under over the last four holes (and 12 under total) would be enough to reach the milestone number.

Ahead of Haas are par 4s at Nos. 6 (430 yards) and 7 (382 yards), the 239-yard par-3 8th and the 563-yard par-5 9th. No. 8 played as the second-toughest hole on the course, with just five birdies and 30 bogeys posted in Thursday’s opening round. The par-5 9th was the second easiest in Round 1, surrendering 61 birdies and nine eagles.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Rookie rumble continues in Las Vegas

Rookies ruled the day in Thursday’s opening round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt emerging tied for the lead after matching 8-under 63s.

Through the early portions of Friday’s second round, the theme remains the same while a new rookie has been cast for a leading role.

Brendan Steele, who won last year’s season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island as well as this year’s Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR, has carded six birdies today and moved to 11 under, tied with Vegas atop the leaderboard. Steele started on the back nine, and is now 9 under on that side for the week.

Vegas, who made 10 birdies Thursday en route to a share of the overnight lead, has just two through 11 holes Friday but also has an eagle from a greenside bunker on the drivable par-5 15th.

Vegas (Bob Hope Classic) and Steele are two of six rookies who have won on the PGA TOUR this season. Both are looking to join Keegan Bradley as two-time rookie winners.

McGirt is 1 under for the day and tied with Tim Herron, two shots behind the co-leaders.

Bill Lunde entered this week with a two-shot advantage over Cameron Tringale in the season-long Kodak Challenge competition. The lead is now three. Lunde, who is grouped with Tringale for the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, applied even more pressure to his closest pursuer Friday by making a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 […]

Tour Report: Back nine still Summerlin’s scoring nine (PGATOUR.com)

The back nine at TPC Summerlin played 1.5 strokes easier in relation to par than the front nine during the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. That average is skewing even more in the favor of the home nine Friday, at least with those posting the day’s best scores.

Six players have reached the clubhouse with scores of 6 under or better in their second rounds. Those players are a combined 30 under on the back nine and just 14 under on the front.

Trevor Immelman Is putting together a back nine that has him fitting right in.

With five consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 16, the 2008 Masters Champion has the best round of the afternoon to this point and is three shots out of the lead shared by Kevin Na, Charlie Wi and Jhonattan Vegas.

Immelman, who hasn’t notched a top-10 finish since the 2008 TOUR Championship, is now tied for 12th, and has 10 holes remaining in his second round.

Joining him at 5 under this afternoon is D.J. Trahan. Trahan entered the day at 1 over and had five birdies on the back nine at TPC Summerlin to move inside the current projected cut line.

Currently there are 11 players at 3 under or better in the afternoon wave. Of those 11, nine started their rounds on the back nine. Only Joe Ogilvie (-3 through 10) and Stephen Ames (-3 through are bucking the trend.

Lunde lands Kodak knockout?

Bill Lunde entered this week with a two-shot advantage over Cameron Tringale in the season-long Kodak Challenge competition. The lead is now three.

Lunde, who is grouped with Tringale for the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, applied even more pressure to his closest pursuer Friday by making a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th — this week’s Kodak Challenge hole.

Lunde and Tringale each birdied the hole in Round 1 when Lunde’s 51-foot eagle putt grazed the left edge of the cup before settling inches away for a tap-in birdie. Tringale, who ran his 37-foot eagle putt by the cup before settling for birdie on Thursday, found the left fairway bunker on Friday and only managed a par.

With just three holes remaining on the schedule, Lunde is certainly in the driver’s seat to win the $1 million Kodak bonus previously earned by Kevin Streelman and Troy Merritt. Tringale, currently tied for 9th at 6 under looks like he’ll have two more chances to eagle the 16th and cut his deficit back to two with the same number of holes (all of which are par 4s) left on the schedule.

Here’s a look at the three remaining holes on the Kodak Challenge schedule:

 DatesEventLocationHoleParLengthOct. 6-9Frys.com OpenCordeValle (San Martin, Calif.)No. 174358Oct. 13-16The McGladrey ClassicSeaside Course (Sea Island, Ga.)No. 134408Oct. 20-23Childrens Miracle Network ClassicDisneys Magnolia Course (Lake Buena Vista, Fla.)No. 174485

Early Round 1 leaders set to take course

Before Jhonattan Vegas, William McGirt, Hunter Haas and anyone else inside the current top 10 took the course Thursday, the guys listed below were your leaders. The majority of the 10 listed below are fighting for spots inside the top 125 on the money list.

Below are the players who posted scores of 65 or better in Round 1 that have afternoon tee times Friday. Track them all afternoon to see who can string together back-to-back good rounds at TPC Summerlin and regain their position near the top of the leaderboard.

PlayerMoneyrankScoreTee timeStartingholeShot TrackerNathan Green178th7 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followSteve Flesch122nd6 under2:39 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followMatt Jones121st6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followRod Pampling119th6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followHarrison Frazar64th6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followNick Watney3rd6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followDerek Lamely194th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followVaughn Taylor148th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followBlake Adams82nd6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followGarrett Willis141st6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to follow

Haas ties course record after 59 threat

Halleran/Getty ImagesA Vegas 59 wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas, but his 61 puts him into contention.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

A year after the PGA TOUR saw two 59s in one season, Hunter Haas threatened the number again at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Haas played his final four holes at even par Friday after getting to 10 under on the par-71 layout at TPC Summerlin. That number is where he would finish up, posting at 61 that ties Tag Ridings and Davis Love III for the course record.

It could have been so much more if not for a bogey on No. 6, his 15th hole of the day, that halted his momentum.

“I know I had a chance,” Haas said. “After I birdied the fourth or fifth hole, you know, at the par 3 I knew I had at least three good birdie opportunities coming in … And I screwed it up.”

After making the turn in 30, Haas started the front nine with four birdies on his first five holes. Standing in the middle of TPC Summerlin’s sixth fairway with a wedge in his hands, Haas was in position to attack for one of the two birdies he would need on the final four holes to shoot the sixth 59 in PGA TOUR history.

His wedge shot fell 34 yards short and right of the pin in the right rough, just his second missed green of the day. Then the pitch settled 18 feet from the pin. Two putts later, Haas had his first bogey of the day and his hopes of a 59 were all but dashed.

“The one bogey I had I was in the middle of the fairway,” he said. “It’s kind of like yesterday. I made two bogeys from the middle of the fairway with wedge in my hand, and that’s kind of disappointing. I did the same today. That’s three bogeys with a wedge in my hand (this week).”

Aside from the miss on No. 6, Haas’ ball striking on approach shots was nearly flawless on Friday. The 34-year-old Texan hit nine fairways in Round 2 and notched 16 greens in regulation.

“I’m still trying to tighten up my ball striking,” Haas said. “I hit a few errant shots, but there’s a lot of short irons out there on this golf course. If you drive your ball well, you’re probably going to have a lot of birdie opportunities.”

Haas was leaving himself great opportunities and converting. Of his nine second-round birdies, six came from inside 8 feet.

“I was burning (the edges) pretty good yesterday, but honestly, I just wasn’t happy with the way I hit my wedges, and I was a little frustrated,” Haas said. “But I hit probably three or four shots pretty close today, and I just felt good over the putts.”

Haas will the weekend at TPC Summerlin at least two shots off the pace, needing to continue striking the ball well to get to the top of the leaderboard. His best two-round stretch of the 2011 season up to this point came in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Viking Classic where he went 66-64 and went on to finish in a tie for 4th.

“We’ll see if I can go out and do what I did today (again) tomorrow,” Haas said. “And it was tough, but I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Lead continues to change hands

It started with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt. Then Brendan Steele surged ahead. Then Hunter Haas was briefly on top as he chased a 59.

Now Kevin Na, in the clubhouse after an 8-under 63, and Vegas, who tapped in for a birdie on No. 9 to complete a 67, are tied for the lead at 12 under. Joining them in the dozen-under club, but still on the course, is Charlie Wi. The South Korean is 5 under for the day and is about to tee off on the 444-yard par-4 18th.

If Wi can’t move ahead, maybe McGirt can. He’s at 10 under with four holes remaining in his second round. If neither Wi nor McGirt moves ahead, 12 under looks like it will be the number for at least a couple more hours.

Haas settles for 61, Na takes the lead

The PGA TOUR scoring record wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas on Friday in Las Vegas, but a share of the course record was.

Haas, who started his second round on No. 10, needed just two birdies over his final four holes Friday to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to reach the 59 mark. Unfortunately, he gave a shot away at TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 to get back to 10 under, but could not convert long putts on Nos. 8 (43-foot birdie try) and 9 (120-foot eagle attempt) to bring 59 back into the picture.

With his three-putt par on No. 9, Haas dropped to a 10-under 61, tying Tag Ridings (2004) and Davis Love III (2001) for the TPC Summerlin course record.

While Haas was making his final bid for a 59, Kevin Na birdied five of six holes to take a two-shot lead at 12 under. Na is playing the 18th at TPC Summerlin to close out his round.

Update: Haas bogeys No. 6, birdies No. 7

Hunter Haas’ bid for a 59 took a major hit with a bogey on TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole.

In ideal position, 153 yards from the pin after his tee shot, Haas missed the green short and right. From the rough, he pitched up to just inside 18 feet and just missed the long par-saver.

Haas’ 59 hopes didn’t go by the wayside with the bogey, though. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 and is back to 10 under with two holes remaining.

Haas heads to the tee on the par-3 8th, needing to go 2 under on his final two holes today for a piece of history.

Haas, who was even in his opening round, is at 10 under for the week and tied atop a crowded leaderboard with Kevin Na, Brendan Steele, Jhonattan Vegas, Tim Herron and William McGirt.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Haas chasing a 59 at TPC Summerlin

The 59 watch is officially on at TPC Summerlin.

Hunter Haas is 10 under through 14 holes today in Las Vegas and in position to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to shoot 59 — or possibly the first to best it.

TPC Summerlin is a par-71 layout, meaning 2 under over the last four holes (and 12 under total) would be enough to reach the milestone number.

Ahead of Haas are par 4s at Nos. 6 (430 yards) and 7 (382 yards), the 239-yard par-3 8th and the 563-yard par-5 9th. No. 8 played as the second-toughest hole on the course, with just five birdies and 30 bogeys posted in Thursday’s opening round. The par-5 9th was the second easiest in Round 1, surrendering 61 birdies and nine eagles.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Rookie rumble continues in Las Vegas

Rookies ruled the day in Thursday’s opening round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt emerging tied for the lead after matching 8-under 63s.

Through the early portions of Friday’s second round, the theme remains the same while a new rookie has been cast for a leading role.

Brendan Steele, who won last year’s season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island as well as this year’s Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR, has carded six birdies today and moved to 11 under, tied with Vegas atop the leaderboard. Steele started on the back nine, and is now 9 under on that side for the week.

Vegas, who made 10 birdies Thursday en route to a share of the overnight lead, has just two through 11 holes Friday but also has an eagle from a greenside bunker on the drivable par-5 15th.

Vegas (Bob Hope Classic) and Steele are two of six rookies who have won on the PGA TOUR this season. Both are looking to join Keegan Bradley as two-time rookie winners.

McGirt is 1 under for the day and tied with Tim Herron, two shots behind the co-leaders.

The back nine at TPC Summerlin played 1.5 strokes easier in relation to par than the front nine during the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. That average is skewing even more in the favor of the home nine Friday, at least with those posting the day’s best scores. Six […]

Tour Report: Lunde lands Kodak knockout? (PGATOUR.com)

Before Jhonattan Vegas, William McGirt, Hunter Haas and anyone else inside the current top 10 took the course Thursday, the guys listed below were your leaders. The majority of the 10 listed below are fighting for spots inside the top 125 on the money list.

Below are the players who posted scores of 65 or better in Round 1 that have afternoon tee times Friday. Track them all afternoon to see who can string together back-to-back good rounds at TPC Summerlin and regain their position near the top of the leaderboard.

PlayerMoneyrankScoreTee timeStartingholeShot TrackerNathan Green178th7 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followSteve Flesch122nd6 under2:39 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followMatt Jones121st6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followRod Pampling119th6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followHarrison Frazar64th6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followNick Watney3rd6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followDerek Lamely194th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followVaughn Taylor148th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followBlake Adams82nd6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followGarrett Willis141st6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to follow

Haas ties course record after 59 threat

Halleran/Getty ImagesA Vegas 59 wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas, but his 61 puts him into contention.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

A year after the PGA TOUR saw two 59s in one season, Hunter Haas threatened the number again at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Haas played his final four holes at even par Friday after getting to 10 under on the par-71 layout at TPC Summerlin. That number is where he would finish up, posting at 61 that ties Tag Ridings and Davis Love III for the course record.

It could have been so much more if not for a bogey on No. 6, his 15th hole of the day, that halted his momentum.

“I know I had a chance,” Haas said. “After I birdied the fourth or fifth hole, you know, at the par 3 I knew I had at least three good birdie opportunities coming in … And I screwed it up.”

After making the turn in 30, Haas started the front nine with four birdies on his first five holes. Standing in the middle of TPC Summerlin’s sixth fairway with a wedge in his hands, Haas was in position to attack for one of the two birdies he would need on the final four holes to shoot the sixth 59 in PGA TOUR history.

His wedge shot fell 34 yards short and right of the pin in the right rough, just his second missed green of the day. Then the pitch settled 18 feet from the pin. Two putts later, Haas had his first bogey of the day and his hopes of a 59 were all but dashed.

“The one bogey I had I was in the middle of the fairway,” he said. “It’s kind of like yesterday. I made two bogeys from the middle of the fairway with wedge in my hand, and that’s kind of disappointing. I did the same today. That’s three bogeys with a wedge in my hand (this week).”

Aside from the miss on No. 6, Haas’ ball striking on approach shots was nearly flawless on Friday. The 34-year-old Texan hit nine fairways in Round 2 and notched 16 greens in regulation.

“I’m still trying to tighten up my ball striking,” Haas said. “I hit a few errant shots, but there’s a lot of short irons out there on this golf course. If you drive your ball well, you’re probably going to have a lot of birdie opportunities.”

Haas was leaving himself great opportunities and converting. Of his nine second-round birdies, six came from inside 8 feet.

“I was burning (the edges) pretty good yesterday, but honestly, I just wasn’t happy with the way I hit my wedges, and I was a little frustrated,” Haas said. “But I hit probably three or four shots pretty close today, and I just felt good over the putts.”

Haas will the weekend at TPC Summerlin at least two shots off the pace, needing to continue striking the ball well to get to the top of the leaderboard. His best two-round stretch of the 2011 season up to this point came in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Viking Classic where he went 66-64 and went on to finish in a tie for 4th.

“We’ll see if I can go out and do what I did today (again) tomorrow,” Haas said. “And it was tough, but I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Lead continues to change hands

It started with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt. Then Brendan Steele surged ahead. Then Hunter Haas was briefly on top as he chased a 59.

Now Kevin Na, in the clubhouse after an 8-under 63, and Vegas, who tapped in for a birdie on No. 9 to complete a 67, are tied for the lead at 12 under. Joining them in the dozen-under club, but still on the course, is Charlie Wi. The South Korean is 5 under for the day and is about to tee off on the 444-yard par-4 18th.

If Wi can’t move ahead, maybe McGirt can. He’s at 10 under with four holes remaining in his second round. If neither Wi nor McGirt moves ahead, 12 under looks like it will be the number for at least a couple more hours.

Lunde lands Kodak knockout?

Bill Lunde entered this week with a three-shot advantage over Cameron Tringale in the season-long Kodak Challenge competition. The lead is now four.

Lunde, who is grouped with Tringale for the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, applied even more pressure to his closest pursuer Friday by making a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th — this week’s Kodak Challenge hole.

Lunde and Tringale each birdied the hole in Round 1 when Lunde’s 51-foot eagle putt grazed the left edge of the cup before settling inches away for a tap-in birdie. Tringale, who ran his 37-foot eagle putt by the cup before settling for birdie on Thursday, found the left fairway bunker on Friday and only managed a par.

With just three holes remaining on the schedule, Lunde is certainly in the driver’s seat to win the $1 million Kodak bonus previously earned by Kevin Streelman and Troy Merritt. Tringale, currently tied for 9th at 6 under looks like he’ll have two more chances to eagle the 16th and cut his deficit back to three with the same number of holes (all of which are par 4s) left on the schedule.

Here’s a look at the three remaining holes on the Kodak Challenge schedule:

DatesEventLocationHoleParLengthOct. 6-9Frys.com OpenCordeValle (San Martin, Calif.)No. 174358Oct. 13-16The McGladrey ClassicSeaside Course (Sea Island, Ga.)No. 134408Oct. 20-23Childrens MiracleNetwork ClassicDisneys Magnolia Course(Lake Buena Vista, Fla.)No. 174485

Haas settles for 61, Na takes the lead

The PGA TOUR scoring record wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas on Friday in Las Vegas, but a share of the course record was.

Haas, who started his second round on No. 10, needed just two birdies over his final four holes Friday to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to reach the 59 mark. Unfortunately, he gave a shot away at TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 to get back to 10 under, but could not convert long putts on Nos. 8 (43-foot birdie try) and 9 (120-foot eagle attempt) to bring 59 back into the picture.

With his three-putt par on No. 9, Haas dropped to a 10-under 61, tying Tag Ridings (2004) and Davis Love III (2001) for the TPC Summerlin course record.

While Haas was making his final bid for a 59, Kevin Na birdied five of six holes to take a two-shot lead at 12 under. Na is playing the 18th at TPC Summerlin to close out his round.

Update: Haas bogeys No. 6, birdies No. 7

Hunter Haas’ bid for a 59 took a major hit with a bogey on TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole.

In ideal position, 153 yards from the pin after his tee shot, Haas missed the green short and right. From the rough, he pitched up to just inside 18 feet and just missed the long par-saver.

Haas’ 59 hopes didn’t go by the wayside with the bogey, though. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 and is back to 10 under with two holes remaining.

Haas heads to the tee on the par-3 8th, needing to go 2 under on his final two holes today for a piece of history.

Haas, who was even in his opening round, is at 10 under for the week and tied atop a crowded leaderboard with Kevin Na, Brendan Steele, Jhonattan Vegas, Tim Herron and William McGirt.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Haas chasing a 59 at TPC Summerlin

The 59 watch is officially on at TPC Summerlin.

Hunter Haas is 10 under through 14 holes today in Las Vegas and in position to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to shoot 59 — or possibly the first to best it.

TPC Summerlin is a par-71 layout, meaning 2 under over the last four holes (and 12 under total) would be enough to reach the milestone number.

Ahead of Haas are par 4s at Nos. 6 (430 yards) and 7 (382 yards), the 239-yard par-3 8th and the 563-yard par-5 9th. No. 8 played as the second-toughest hole on the course, with just five birdies and 30 bogeys posted in Thursday’s opening round. The par-5 9th was the second easiest in Round 1, surrendering 61 birdies and nine eagles.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Rookie rumble continues in Las Vegas

Rookies ruled the day in Thursday’s opening round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt emerging tied for the lead after matching 8-under 63s.

Through the early portions of Friday’s second round, the theme remains the same while a new rookie has been cast for a leading role.

Brendan Steele, who won last year’s season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island as well as this year’s Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR, has carded six birdies today and moved to 11 under, tied with Vegas atop the leaderboard. Steele started on the back nine, and is now 9 under on that side for the week.

Vegas, who made 10 birdies Thursday en route to a share of the overnight lead, has just two through 11 holes Friday but also has an eagle from a greenside bunker on the drivable par-5 15th.

Vegas (Bob Hope Classic) and Steele are two of six rookies who have won on the PGA TOUR this season. Both are looking to join Keegan Bradley as two-time rookie winners.

McGirt is 1 under for the day and tied with Tim Herron, two shots behind the co-leaders.

Wrapping up Round 1

Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt, two PGA TOUR rookies, find themselves atop the leaderboard after the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Vegas, who won early this season at the Bob Hope Classic after finishing No. 7 on the 2010 Nationwide Tour money list, is one of six rookie winners on the PGA TOUR this season. McGirt, a 2010 q-school graduate, hit his stride late in the season as he escaped the FedExCup bubble to qualify for The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Nathan Green, who held the lead for much of the afternoon, ended up one shot off the pace. Charlie Wi birdied two of his last three holes to get to 7 under and tie Green for third place.

There are 11 golfers (including Nick Watney, Steve Flesch, Matt Jones and Tim Herron) tied at 6 under, two shots off the pace.

Click below to see some of the best shots from Thursday’s opening round at TPC Summerlin.

Watch: Round 1 Highlights

Jhonattan Vegas shoots an 8-under 63 to tie William McGirt for the overnight lead.

Halleran/Getty Images A Vegas 59 wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas, but his 61 puts him into contention. By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM A year after the PGA TOUR saw two 59s in one season, Hunter Haas threatened the number again at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Haas played his final four […]

Tour Report: Lead continues to change hands (PGATOUR.com)

It started with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt. Then Brendan Steele surged ahead. Then Hunter Haas was briefly on top as he chased a 59.

Now Kevin Na, in the clubhouse after an 8-under 63, and Vegas, who tapped in for a birdie on No. 9 to complete a 67, are tied for the lead at 12 under. Joining them in the dozen-under club, but still on the course, is Charlie Wi. The South Korean is 5 under for the day and is about to tee off on the 444-yard par-4 18th.

If Wi can’t move ahead, maybe McGirt can. He’s at 10 under with four holes remaining in his second round. If neither Wi nor McGirt moves ahead, 12 under looks like it will be the number for at least a couple more hours.

Lunde lands Kodak knockout?

Bill Lunde entered this week with a three-shot advantage over Cameron Tringale in the season-long Kodak Challenge competition. The lead is now four.

Lunde, who is grouped with Tringale for the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, applied even more pressure to his closest pursuer Friday by making a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th — this week’s Kodak Challenge hole.

Lunde and Tringale each birdied the hole in Round 1 when Lunde’s 51-foot eagle putt grazed the left edge of the cup before settling inches away for a tap-in birdie. Tringale, who ran his 37-foot eagle putt by the cup before settling for birdie on Thursday, found the left fairway bunker on Friday and only managed a par.

With just three holes remaining on the schedule, Lunde is certainly in the driver’s seat to win the $1 million Kodak bonus previously earned by Kevin Streelman and Troy Merritt. Tringale, currently tied for 9th at 6 under looks like he’ll have two more chances to eagle the 16th and cut his deficit back to three with the same number of holes (all of which are par 4s) left on the schedule.

Here’s a look at the three remaining holes on the Kodak Challenge schedule:

DatesEventLocationHoleParLengthOct. 6-9Frys.com OpenCordeValle (San Martin, Calif.)No. 174358Oct. 13-16The McGladrey ClassicSeaside Course (Sea Island, Ga.)No. 134408Oct. 20-23Childrens MiracleNetwork ClassicDisneys Magnolia Course(Lake Buena Vista, Fla.)No. 174485

Haas settles for 61, Na takes the lead

The PGA TOUR scoring record wasn’t in the cards for Hunter Haas on Friday in Las Vegas, but a share of the course record was.

Haas, who started his second round on No. 10, needed just two birdies over his final four holes Friday to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to reach the 59 mark. Unfortunately, he gave a shot away at TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 to get back to 10 under, but could not convert long putts on Nos. 8 (43-foot birdie try) and 9 (120-foot eagle attempt) to bring 59 back into the picture.

With his three-putt par on No. 9, Haas dropped to a 10-under 61, tying Tag Ridings (2004) and Davis Love III (2001) for the TPC Summerlin course record.

While Haas was making his final bid for a 59, Kevin Na birdied five of six holes to take a two-shot lead at 12 under. Na is playing the 18th at TPC Summerlin to close out his round.

Early Round 1 leaders set to take course

Before Jhonattan Vegas, William McGirt, Hunter Haas and anyone else inside the current top 10 took the course Thursday, the guys listed below were your leaders. The majority of the 10 listed below are fighting for spots inside the top 125 on the money list.

Below are the players who posted scores of 65 or better in Round 1 that have afternoon tee times Friday. Track them all afternoon to see who can string together back-to-back good rounds at TPC Summerlin and regain their position near the top of the leaderboard.

PlayerMoneyrankScoreTee timeStartingholeShot TrackerNathan Green178th7 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followSteve Flesch122nd6 under2:39 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followMatt Jones121st6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followRod Pampling119th6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followHarrison Frazar64th6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followNick Watney3rd6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followDerek Lamely194th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followVaughn Taylor148th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followBlake Adams82nd6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followGarrett Willis141st6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to follow

Update: Haas bogeys No. 6, birdies No. 7

Hunter Haas’ bid for a 59 took a major hit with a bogey on TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole.

In ideal position, 153 yards from the pin after his tee shot, Haas missed the green short and right. From the rough, he pitched up to just inside 18 feet and just missed the long par-saver.

Haas’ 59 hopes didn’t go by the wayside with the bogey, though. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 and is back to 10 under with two holes remaining.

Haas heads to the tee on the par-3 8th, needing to go 2 under on his final two holes today for a piece of history.

Haas, who was even in his opening round, is at 10 under for the week and tied atop a crowded leaderboard with Kevin Na, Brendan Steele, Jhonattan Vegas, Tim Herron and William McGirt.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Haas chasing a 59 at TPC Summerlin

The 59 watch is officially on at TPC Summerlin.

Hunter Haas is 10 under through 14 holes today in Las Vegas and in position to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to shoot 59 — or possibly the first to best it.

TPC Summerlin is a par-71 layout, meaning 2 under over the last four holes (and 12 under total) would be enough to reach the milestone number.

Ahead of Haas are par 4s at Nos. 6 (430 yards) and 7 (382 yards), the 239-yard par-3 8th and the 563-yard par-5 9th. No. 8 played as the second-toughest hole on the course, with just five birdies and 30 bogeys posted in Thursday’s opening round. The par-5 9th was the second easiest in Round 1, surrendering 61 birdies and nine eagles.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Rookie rumble continues in Las Vegas

Rookies ruled the day in Thursday’s opening round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt emerging tied for the lead after matching 8-under 63s.

Through the early portions of Friday’s second round, the theme remains the same while a new rookie has been cast for a leading role.

Brendan Steele, who won last year’s season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island as well as this year’s Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR, has carded six birdies today and moved to 11 under, tied with Vegas atop the leaderboard. Steele started on the back nine, and is now 9 under on that side for the week.

Vegas, who made 10 birdies Thursday en route to a share of the overnight lead, has just two through 11 holes Friday but also has an eagle from a greenside bunker on the drivable par-5 15th.

Vegas (Bob Hope Classic) and Steele are two of six rookies who have won on the PGA TOUR this season. Both are looking to join Keegan Bradley as two-time rookie winners.

McGirt is 1 under for the day and tied with Tim Herron, two shots behind the co-leaders.

Wrapping up Round 1

Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt, two PGA TOUR rookies, find themselves atop the leaderboard after the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Vegas, who won early this season at the Bob Hope Classic after finishing No. 7 on the 2010 Nationwide Tour money list, is one of six rookie winners on the PGA TOUR this season. McGirt, a 2010 q-school graduate, hit his stride late in the season as he escaped the FedExCup bubble to qualify for The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Nathan Green, who held the lead for much of the afternoon, ended up one shot off the pace. Charlie Wi birdied two of his last three holes to get to 7 under and tie Green for third place.

There are 11 golfers (including Nick Watney, Steve Flesch, Matt Jones and Tim Herron) tied at 6 under, two shots off the pace.

Click below to see some of the best shots from Thursday’s opening round at TPC Summerlin.

Watch: Round 1 Highlights

Jhonattan Vegas shoots an 8-under 63 to tie William McGirt for the overnight lead.

Vegas, McGirt now sharing lead

Jhonattan Vegas reached 8 under, dropped back to 7 under on No. 17, then birdied No. 18 to take sole possession of the lead.

The rookie from Venezuela now has company from another member of the 2011 rookie Class.

With a birdie on the par-5 16th hole, this week’s Kodak Challenge hole, William McGirt has reached 8 under in what has been a bogey-free opening round thus far. McGirt, who qualified for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup in the last week of the Regular Season, has work to do to retain his full status on TOUR. He entered the Fall Series at No. 137 on the money list.

Also moving up the leaderboard late in the afternoon was Charlie Wi. The South Korean birdied five consecutive holes on the back nine, his opening nine, and went on to post a 7-under 64, tied for the day’s second best score with early leader Nathan Green.

It started with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt. Then Brendan Steele surged ahead. Then Hunter Haas was briefly on top as he chased a 59. Now Kevin Na, in the clubhouse after an 8-under 63, and Vegas, who tapped in for a birdie on No. 9 to complete a 67, are tied for the lead […]

I could handle being No. 1 again, says Kaymer

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP)—After wilting under the pressure of being theworld’s top-ranked golfer earlier this year, Martin Kaymer insisted Friday hewill be better prepared to handle the increased scrutiny should he ever regaintop spot.

The 26-year-old German supplanted Lee Westwood at No. 1 in February, with asecond-place finish in the World Match Play Championship in Arizona coming amonth after a lucrative victory at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

However, the form that brought him early success in 2011 and four titleslast year—including a first major at the U.S. PGA Championship—deserted himand a barren seven months has seen him drop to No. 6 in the rankings.

He has looked back to somewhere near his best at this week’s Dunhill LinksChampionship in Scotland, though, shooting rounds of 68 and 67 to lie threeshots off the lead at the halfway mark.

Kaymer is now thinking big again and is confident he can get back to No. 1—and stay there.

“After five years being a professional, all of a sudden I was No. 1 in theworld,” Kaymer said. “All of a sudden, you see your name up there and peopleapproach you different. They act different around you and obviously you do a fewmore things besides just practicing and playing golf. And that takes some timeto get used to.

“Well, now I know what’s going to happen. There’s not going to be the hype,it’s not going to be as big. Not as big as it was when I was the second Germanto become No. 1 and with a new golf era in Germany starting and all of thosethings. I think I’m better prepared this time.”

With current No. 1 Luke Donald setting a fierce pace at the top of therankings, Kaymer won’t get there any time soon.

Donald is top of the money lists at both the PGA Tour in the United Statesand the European Tour and is a consistent top-10 finisher both sides of theAtlantic. The Englishman took over top spot in May and is likely to stay therefor the rest of the year.

“It’s very impressive because it’s not easy mentally,” Kaymer said. “Ijust read from Darren Clarke that it was his ultimate, winning the British Open,and … he is struggling to find new goals now. If you are No. 1 once, itdoesn’t get higher, so it’s tough to continue.

“But it feels like every week he plays, he finishes in the top 10.”

The closest Kaymer has come to ending his winless streak was at the FrenchOpen in July, where he finished fourth, and the European Masters at the start ofthis month, where he ended up second.

Considering the way he is playing, a victory could come at the DunhillLinks, though. And if it does, he would become the first player to successfullydefend the title.

Kaymer would also become only the fourth player—after Seve Ballesteros,Tiger Woods and Ian Woosnam—to successfully defend more than one European Tourtitle in the same year.

After two unseasonably warm and sunny days at Kingsbarns and Carnoustie,Kaymer is praying for proper links conditions—wind and rain—to arrive forback-to-back rounds at St. Andrews to make the course more competitive.

“It hasn’t really been Scottish weather here. I would love to have a littlemore wind, especially the next two days, playing St. Andrews,” he said. “Iknow how it was at the (British) Open last year, how tough it became. But Ireally enjoy it when it’s really tough.

“I’m playing good golf. I just feel very comfortable.”

Golf-Teenage sensation Thomson given LPGA membership for 2012 (Reuters)

Sept 30 (Reuters) – Teenage prodigy Alexis Thompson will compete full-time on the LPGA Tournext year after her petition for membership was approved by the LPGA on Friday.

The 16-year-old American, who is now ranked 44th in the world, became the youngest winnerever on the U.S. circuit earlier this month and is widely viewed as one of the game’s mostexciting prospects.

There is an 18-year-old age requirement for Tour membership but the LPGA agreed to bend therules for her.

“Lexi Thompson is a unique talent who has continued to grow, develop and mature both on andoff the golf course since turning professional in 2010,” LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said in astatement.

“Her overall performance, most recently demonstrated by her win at the Navistar LPGAClassic, has currently placed her among the top 50 in the world.”

Thomson won the Navistar LPGA Classic in Alabama by five shots, eclipsing the earlierachievements of Marlene Hagge and Paula Creamer on the U.S. women’s circuit.

Hagge was 18 years and 14 days when she won the 1952 Sarasota Open, an 18-hole event, whileCreamer was 18 years, nine months and 17 days when she clinched the four-round Sybase Classicin 2005.

What made Thompson’s breakthrough especially impressive was that it came just eight monthsafter she was denied the chance to play more frequently on the LPGA Tour through sponsors’invitations.

She had petitioned the Tour for ‘limited membership’ and a doubling in sponsor exemptionsfrom six to 12 but that request was turned down by Whan after “careful consideration.”

That stance has since been reversed by the LPGA.

“Her ability to handle the success and disappointment inherent to this game testifies to alevel of maturity that I believe makes her capable of handling the emotional rigours ofprofessional golf,” Whan said.

“Therefore, effective at the start of our 2012 season, Lexi will officially become a memberof the LPGA Tour.”

Thompson, whose oldest brother Nicholas has competed on the PGA Tour, made her professionaldebut in June last year at the ShopRite LPGA Classic where she missed the cut.

The following month she tied for 10th in the U.S. Women’s Open at Oakmont before producingher best finish of the season two weeks later with a tie for second at the Evian Masters inFrance.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Julian Linden; To query orcomment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Tour Report: Early Round 1 leaders set to take course (PGATOUR.com)

Before Jhonattan Vegas, William McGirt, Hunter Haas and anyone else inside the current top 10 took the course Thursday, the guys listed below were your leaders. The majority of the 10 listed below are fighting for spots inside the top 125 on the money list.

Below are the players who posted scores of 65 or better in Round 1 that have afternoon tee times Friday. Track them all afternoon to see who can string together back-to-back good rounds at TPC Summerlin and regain their position near the top of the leaderboard.

PlayerMoneyrankScoreTee timeStartingholeShot TrackerNathan Green178th7 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followSteve Flesch122nd6 under2:39 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followMatt Jones121st6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followRod Pampling119th6 under2:49 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followHarrison Frazar64th6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followNick Watney3rd6 under2:58 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followDerek Lamely194th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followVaughn Taylor148th6 under3:17 p.m. ETNo. 1Click to followBlake Adams82nd6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to followGarrett Willis141st6 under3:46 p.m. ETNo. 10Click to follow

Update: Haas bogeys No. 6, birdies No. 7

Hunter Haas’ bid for a 59 took a major hit with a bogey on TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole.

In ideal position, 153 yards from the pin after his tee shot, Haas missed the green short and right. From the rough, he pitched up to just inside 18 feet and just missed the long par-saver.

Haas’ 59 hopes didn’t go by the wayside with the bogey, though. He rebounded with a birdie on No. 7 and is back to 10 under with two holes remaining.

Haas heads to the tee on the par-3 8th, needing to go 2 under on his final two holes today for a piece of history.

Haas, who was even in his opening round, is at 10 under for the week and tied atop a crowded leaderboard with Kevin Na, Brendan Steele, Jhonattan Vegas, Tim Herron and William McGirt.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Haas chasing a 59 at TPC Summerlin

The 59 watch is officially on at TPC Summerlin.

Hunter Haas is 10 under through 14 holes today in Las Vegas and in position to become the sixth player in PGA TOUR history to shoot 59 — or possibly the first to best it.

TPC Summerlin is a par-71 layout, meaning 2 under over the last four holes (and 12 under total) would be enough to reach the milestone number.

Ahead of Haas are par 4s at Nos. 6 (430 yards) and 7 (382 yards), the 239-yard par-3 8th and the 563-yard par-5 9th. No. 8 played as the second-toughest hole on the course, with just five birdies and 30 bogeys posted in Thursday’s opening round. The par-5 9th was the second easiest in Round 1, surrendering 61 birdies and nine eagles.

Click here to track Haas live, shot-by-shot

Rookie rumble continues in Las Vegas

Rookies ruled the day in Thursday’s opening round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt emerging tied for the lead after matching 8-under 63s.

Through the early portions of Friday’s second round, the theme remains the same while a new rookie has been cast for a leading role.

Brendan Steele, who won last year’s season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island as well as this year’s Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR, has carded six birdies today and moved to 11 under, tied with Vegas atop the leaderboard. Steele started on the back nine, and is now 9 under on that side for the week.

Vegas, who made 10 birdies Thursday en route to a share of the overnight lead, has just two through 11 holes Friday but also has an eagle from a greenside bunker on the drivable par-5 15th.

Vegas (Bob Hope Classic) and Steele are two of six rookies who have won on the PGA TOUR this season. Both are looking to join Keegan Bradley as two-time rookie winners.

McGirt is 1 under for the day and tied with Tim Herron, two shots behind the co-leaders.

Lunde lands Kodak knockout?

Bill Lunde entered this week with a three-shot advantage over Cameron Tringale in the season-long Kodak Challenge competition. The lead is now four.

Lunde, who is grouped with Tringale for the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, applied even more pressure to his closet pursuer Friday by making a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th — this week’s Kodak Challenge hole.

Lunde and Tringale each birdied the hole in Round 1 when Lunde’s 51-foot eagle putt grazed the left edge of the cup before settling inches away for a tap-in birdie. Tringale, who ran his 37-foot eagle putt by the cup before settling for birdie on Thursday, found the left fairway bunker on Friday and only managed a par.

With just three holes remaining on the schedule, Lunde is certainly in the driver’s seat to win the $1 million Kodak bonus previously earned by Kevin Streelman and Troy Merritt. Tringale, currently tied for 9th at 6 under looks like he’ll have two more chances to eagle the 16th and cut his deficit back to three with the same number of holes (all of which are par 4s) left on the schedule.

Here’s a look at the three remaining holes on the Kodak Challenge schedule:

DatesEventLocationHoleParLengthOct. 6-9Frys.com OpenCordeValle (San Martin, Calif.)No. 174358Oct. 13-16The McGladrey ClassicSeaside Course (Sea Island, Ga.)No. 134408Oct. 20-23Childrens MiracleNetwork ClassicDisneys Magnolia Course(Lake Buena Vista, Fla.)No. 174485

Wrapping up Round 1

Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt, two PGA TOUR rookies, find themselves atop the leaderboard after the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Vegas, who won early this season at the Bob Hope Classic after finishing No. 7 on the 2010 Nationwide Tour money list, is one of six rookie winners on the PGA TOUR this season. McGirt, a 2010 q-school graduate, hit his stride late in the season as he escaped the FedExCup bubble to qualify for The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Nathan Green, who held the lead for much of the afternoon, ended up one shot off the pace. Charlie Wi birdied two of his last three holes to get to 7 under and tie Green for third place.

There are 11 golfers (including Nick Watney, Steve Flesch, Matt Jones and Tim Herron) tied at 6 under, two shots off the pace.

Click below to see some of the best shots from Thursday’s opening round at TPC Summerlin.

Watch: Round 1 Highlights

Jhonattan Vegas shoots an 8-under 63 to tie William McGirt for the overnight lead.

Vegas, McGirt now sharing lead

Jhonattan Vegas reached 8 under, dropped back to 7 under on No. 17, then birdied No. 18 to take sole possession of the lead.

The rookie from Venezuela now has company from another member of the 2011 rookie Class.

With a birdie on the par-5 16th hole, this week’s Kodak Challenge hole, William McGirt has reached 8 under in what has been a bogey-free opening round thus far. McGirt, who qualified for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup in the last week of the Regular Season, has work to do to retain his full status on TOUR. He entered the Fall Series at No. 137 on the money list.

Also moving up the leaderboard late in the afternoon was Charlie Wi. The South Korean birdied five consecutive holes on the back nine, his opening nine, and went on to post a 7-under 64, tied for the day’s second best score with early leader Nathan Green.

Update: Vegas moves ahead

With a birdie on the par-5 16th hole, this week’s Kodak Challenge hole, Jhonattan Vegas has taken a one-shot lead over Nathan Green in the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Vegas, playing in a city that shares his surname, has nine birdies and a bogey through 16 holes at TPC Summerlin.

Tim Herron is at 6 under through 14 holes, just two shots behind Vegas with a drivable par 4 and the par-5 16th ahead of him.

Also making noise in the afternoon wave are Cameron Tringale (-5/17) and William McGirt (-5/12).

Hunter Haas’ bid for a 59 took a major hit with a bogey on TPC Summerlin’s par-4 6th hole. In ideal position, 153 yards from the pin after his tee shot, Haas missed the green short and right. From the rough, he pitched up to just inside 18 feet and just missed the long par-saver. […]

Tour Report: Rookie rumble continues in Las Vegas (PGATOUR.com)

Rookies ruled the day in Thursday’s opening round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open with Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt emerging tied for the lead after matching 8-under 63s.

Through the early portions of Friday’s second round, the theme remains the same while a new rookie has been cast for a leading role.

Brendan Steele, who won last year’s season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island as well as this year’s Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR, has carded six birdies today and moved to 11 under, tied with Vegas atop the leaderboard. Steele started on the back nine, and is now 9 under on that side for the week.

Vegas, who made 10 birdies Thursday en route to a share of the overnight lead, has just two through 11 holes Friday but also has an eagle from a greenside bunker on the drivable par-5 15th.

Vegas (Bob Hope Classic) and Steele are two of six rookies who have won on the PGA TOUR this season. Both are looking to join Keegan Bradley as two-time rookie winners.

McGirt is 1 under for the day and tied with Tim Herron, two shots behind the co-leaders.

Lunde lands Kodak knockout?

Bill Lunde entered this week with a three-shot advantage over Cameron Tringale in the season-long Kodak Challenge competition. The lead is now four.

Lunde, who is grouped with Tringale for the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, applied even more pressure to his closet pursuer Friday by making a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th — this week’s Kodak Challenge hole.

Lunde and Tringale each birdied the hole in Round 1 when Lunde’s 51-foot eagle putt grazed the left edge of the cup before settling inches away for a tap-in birdie. Tringale, who ran his 37-foot eagle putt by the cup before settling for birdie on Thursday, found the left fairway bunker on Friday and only managed a par.

With just three holes remaining on the schedule, Lunde is certainly in the driver’s seat to win the $1 million Kodak bonus previously earned by Kevin Streelman and Troy Merritt. Tringale, currently tied for 9th at 6 under looks like he’ll have two more chances to eagle the 16th and cut his deficit back to three with the same number of holes (all of which are par 4s) left on the schedule.

Here’s a look at the three remaining holes on the Kodak Challenge schedule:

DatesEventLocationHoleParLengthOct. 6-9Frys.com OpenCordeValle (San Martin, Calif.)No. 174358Oct. 13-16The McGladrey ClassicSeaside Course (Sea Island, Ga.)No. 134408Oct. 20-23Childrens MiracleNetwork ClassicDisneys Magnolia Course(Lake Buena Vista, Fla.)No. 174485

Ballstriking keys Jones on Thursday

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

His putter may have still been asleep for the early parts of Matt Jones’ opening round at TPC Summerlin but the rest of his game was on from start to finish. Jones teed off at 7:19 local time and pared his first eight holes, missing a number of birdie looks including two inside 10 feet, before rolling to a 6-under 65 at TPC Summerlin.

That mark places him in a nine-way tie for second, one shot behind leader Nathan Green.

Jones

“First nine, score-wise, I hit it unbelievably but didn’t make a putt on the front nine,” Jones said. “I hit it the same on the back nine, made a few putts and ended up with a good score.”

Jones was bogey free in his opening round, only needing to scramble on two holes. One of those was a highly unlikely par save. The 31-year old Aussie got up-and-down from 99 yards out (making a 3-foot putt) on the par-4 3rd to stay at even par early in his round.

How well was Jones striking it Thursday? His six birdie putts totaled less than 50 feet in length (around 8 ft. per putt).

“I hit it very good today,” Jones said. “Been working hard with my coach. Actually went back home to Australia for three weeks and it was probably the hardest I’ve worked on my game for a long time. (I) brought him back over here and it’s starting to pay off.”

Jones has made nine cuts in 21 starts this season with his best finish a tie for 6th at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He’s missed eight of nine cuts entering the Fall Series.

Jones, a 2007 Nationwide Tour graduate, has the dubious honor of being the only player to be knocked out of the top 125 on the TOUR’s money list in two Fall Series (2008, 2009). Entering this Fall Series at No. 121 this season, he must play well to avoid the same fate a third time.

“It’s not where I want to be,” he said. “But I have four events to get a win and then we’ll go from there.”

Green steady en route to early lead

Halleran/Getty ImagesNathan Green carded seven birdies and no bogeys Thursday at TPC Summerlin.

By Chris Dunham, PGATOUR.COM

Sometimes it just takes a little time away.

Because he missed the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, Nathan Green hadn’t made a start on TOUR in more than a month. Green tied for 52nd at his last start (Wyndham Championship). There, he was struggling off the tee which caused him to hit just 65 percent of his greens in regulation. Green had nine bogeys or worse against 12 birdies for the week in Greensboro.

Fast forward to Thursday at TPC Summerlin where Green came roaring out of the gates with a bogey-free 7-under 64 for the first round lead of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Green hit it long (304.5 average) and straight (10 of 14 fairways) off the tee allowing to hit 14 greens in regulation.

“Today it just sort of all clicked a little bit,” Green said. “It’s just one of those days where I sort of drove it a little — just been struggling off the tee and felt like it’s just gone through the rest of the game. And the putting has not been where it needs to be.”

Not only was Green’s 64 the best round of career in this event, it tied the lowest number he’s posted all year. He posted a 64 during Round 2 of this year’s John Deere Classic on another par 71, and a 64 in the opening round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Par 70).

“I made a couple of really nice up-and-downs, but it was just one of those real steady rounds where I just managed to pick up — there’s probably three or four sort of unexpected birdies out there,” Green said. “And yeah, just no mistakes, which was nice. (I had) no bogeys which was pretty unusual.”

The 2009 RBC Canadian Open champion enters this week at No. 178th on the money list. He knows his TOUR card is in jeopardy but is focusing on getting his game together first and foremost.

“It would just be nice to play some good golf; to play well this week and the next three weeks,” Green said. “I would be happy with that. I would like to keep my card, but even if I didn’t, just to play some nice golf, just would take the pressure off.”

Green’s last top-10 finish came in January of 2010 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Since then, he’s made 27 cuts in 49 starts and just 11 in 22 with a top finish of 23rd this year.

“Probably the last year and a half, my short game has not been good enough to compete,” Green said. “And my first few years on TOUR, I was able to hit the ball where I could to get it around and struggled to do it lately. Today was good. Felt like I left the course with a couple better than I deserved, so that was good.”

Wrapping up Round 1

Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt, two PGA TOUR rookies, find themselves atop the leaderboard after the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Vegas, who won early this season at the Bob Hope Classic after finishing No. 7 on the 2010 Nationwide Tour money list, is one of six rookie winners on the PGA TOUR this season. McGirt, a 2010 q-school graduate, hit his stride late in the season as he escaped the FedExCup bubble to qualify for The Barclays and the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Nathan Green, who held the lead for much of the afternoon, ended up one shot off the pace. Charlie Wi birdied two of his last three holes to get to 7 under and tie Green for third place.

There are 11 golfers (including Nick Watney, Steve Flesch, Matt Jones and Tim Herron) tied at 6 under, two shots off the pace.

Click below to see some of the best shots from Thursday’s opening round at TPC Summerlin.

Watch: Round 1 Highlights

Jhonattan Vegas shoots an 8-under 63 to tie William McGirt for the overnight lead.

Vegas, McGirt now sharing lead

Jhonattan Vegas reached 8 under, dropped back to 7 under on No. 17, then birdied No. 18 to take sole possession of the lead.

The rookie from Venezuela now has company from another member of the 2011 rookie Class.

With a birdie on the par-5 16th hole, this week’s Kodak Challenge hole, William McGirt has reached 8 under in what has been a bogey-free opening round thus far. McGirt, who qualified for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup in the last week of the Regular Season, has work to do to retain his full status on TOUR. He entered the Fall Series at No. 137 on the money list.

Also moving up the leaderboard late in the afternoon was Charlie Wi. The South Korean birdied five consecutive holes on the back nine, his opening nine, and went on to post a 7-under 64, tied for the day’s second best score with early leader Nathan Green.

Update: Vegas moves ahead

With a birdie on the par-5 16th hole, this week’s Kodak Challenge hole, Jhonattan Vegas has taken a one-shot lead over Nathan Green in the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Vegas, playing in a city that shares his surname, has nine birdies and a bogey through 16 holes at TPC Summerlin.

Tim Herron is at 6 under through 14 holes, just two shots behind Vegas with a drivable par 4 and the par-5 16th ahead of him.

Also making noise in the afternoon wave are Cameron Tringale (-5/17) and William McGirt (-5/12).

Update: Imada 4 under at the turn

Ryuji Imada rolled in four consecutive birdies on holes 13 through 16 Thursday and made the turn at 4 under — the best score of anyone in the afternoon wave. Nathan Green still holds the clubhouse lead after a 7-under 64.

Imada needed just 11 putts on his opening nine and now sets his sights on the front nine at TPC Summerlin.

A pair of 2011 PGA TOUR winners — Michael Bradley (Puerto Rico Open) and Jhonattan Vegas (Bob Hope Classic) — also are at the 4 under mark, each throughseven holes. Vegas started his day on No. 1 with the Featured Group while Bradley teed off on the back nine.

Tommy Gainey, Paul Goydos and Charlie Wi are among the players on the course at 3 under.

Bill Lunde entered this week with a three-shot advantage over Cameron Tringale in the season-long Kodak Challenge competition. The lead is now four. Lunde, who is grouped with Tringale for the first two rounds at TPC Summerlin, applied even more pressure to his closet pursuer Friday by making a 14-foot eagle putt on the par-5 […]

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