The Daily Wrap-up, Round 1: Northern Trust Open (PGATOUR.com)

February 4, 2010

LOS ANGELES—Dustin Johnson pulled off a 65-foot birdie putt in shooting a bogey-free 7-under 64 to build a one-shot lead among the early starters at the Northern Trust Open on Thursday.

"Had good vibes going all day, and just hit the ball really good all day long," Johnson said.

Andres Romero had good vibes going, too. The dynamic Argentine had eight birdies to offset a double bogey on the ninth hole when he didn't listen to his caddie. Romero finished with four straight birdies for a 65.

Steve Lowery was another two shots behind at 67, followed by a large group at 68 that included 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa, past Riviera winner Rory Sabbatini, Stephen Ames and Scott Verplank.

Phil Mickelson, who took the Ping Eye2 wedge with square grooves out of his bag this week, was among the late starters.

Hunter Mahan and Fred Couples were among those using the wedge, which was approved under an old legal settlement. Mahan said he never considered anything wrong with a club that was approved under the rules, even after the Mickelson dispute last week involving Scott McCarron, who claimed it was "cheating."

Mickelson's reason for using the wedge was to call attention to the U.S. Golf Association's process of changing rules, which he has referred to as "ridiculous." Mahan's reason was different.

"It spins a little bit more," he said.

Even so, it didn't help on the 10th hole, when Mahan went bunker-to-bunker and made double bogey. Heading down the 11th fairway, John Wood, his caddie who found the old Ping wedge, said with a laugh, "If we had V-grooves, we would have had to hit four times instead of three."

The par-4 10th hole is among the most famous in golf, and one of the best tests among short par 4s anywhere in the world. It measured 303 yards for the opening round, with an emphasis on angles more than how far the ball is struck.

Determined to get off to a good start, Johnson decided for the first time not to drive the 10th and instead laid up with a 4-iron. He made par, which never hurts. And then he took off.

"I didn't make birdie, but it was an easy 4," he said. "And I wanted it to be easy."

He made the rest of his round look that way. He was on or around the greens on two of the par 5s, received a gift with the monster putt on No. 12, and the only time he came close to a bogey was at the par-3 fourth, when he went long and chipped to 8 feet.

Romero, coming off such a poor year that he's not eligible for any of the majors, also had an easy time except for the ninth. From a fairway bunker, his caddie wanted him to hit 7-iron short of the green and get up-and-down for par.

"I'm so stubborn, I stayed with the 6-iron," Romero said. "And it buried in the bunker."

He took double bogey, then followed with his burst of birdies at the end. Romero tied for third at Riviera a year ago.

Lowery had a similar lapse, wasting a good start with his double bogey-bogey at the turn. Then, he flew his sand wedge over the 10th green and into a back bunker. But he managed to save par, then followed with four birdies in six holes.

Thursday's bestEASIEST HOLE TOUGHEST HOLE The par-5 first hole was the easiest with a Thursday scoring average of 4.258.EAGLES: 6 BIRDIES: 88 PARS: 36BOGEYS: 2 OTHERS: 0 The par-4 ninth hole was the toughest with a Thursday scoring average of 4.295.EAGLES: 0 BIRDIES: 8 PARS: 79BOGEYS: 38 OTHERS: 4

INSIDE THE ROPES WITH THE PGA TOUR NETWORK PGA TOUR Network correspondent Mark Carnevale offers these observations from Thursday's action. Listen to PGA TOUR Live coverage on XM 146/SIRIUS 209 or right here at PGATOUR.COM.

The key to Dustin Johnson's good round on Thursday was his distance control. I was out with him as he played his last five holes and I can vouch for the fact that he was at least hole high or beyond to give himself a lot of birdie attempts. Johnson converted his final two birdies of the round at the par-4 seventh and par-4 eighth holes. Distance control is important at Riviera as many greens are undulating and will leave players with difficult chip shots if they happen to hit wayward approach shots.

I have played Riviera many times, and I can honestly say I have never seen this course in as good as shape as it is in right now. It is absolutely pristine. Unfortunately, rain in the forecast may affect the play of this golf course. If conditions remained as they were in Round 1, Riviera could be one very tough course come the final round.

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