Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas got off to a hot start in the desert.
Fowler and Thomas shot matching seven-under 64s to lead the morning wave of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Thursday. They were tied for the lead when they finished.
Thomas teed off in the group in front of Fowler (they both started on 10) and made birdies on 15 and 18 to make the turn in two under. He scorched the front nine from there, making birdie on five of the first six holes.
“It was a good day today,” Thomas said. “I was in control of everything tee to green. I didn’t necessarily get off to the greatest start score-wise, but I felt like I was playing well.”
Fowler shot 32 on both sides, making five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 13th.
“[Justin and I are] sharing a house this week, so I wanted bragging rights at dinner tonight,” Fowler said. “We’re going to keep it rolling, it’s going to be fun, hopefully we can keep it going into Sunday and put on a little boxing match.”
Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Bubba Watson are among the pros who had afternoon tee times on Thursday. You can follow their opening rounds here.
Thomas’s second round begins at 2:05 p.m. ET on Friday, and Fowler tees off at 2:15 p.m. Both begin on the 1st tee.
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