The PGA Tour begins the Florida swing this week, with a stop at PGA National Resort & Spa’s Champion course for the 2019 Honda Classic.
Here’s everything you missed from the first round in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Vegas turned in a pure scorecard that featured six birdies and no bogeys for a score of six-under-par 64 to lead the tournament by two shots over Lucas Glover, Zach Johnson, Ernie Els and Ben Silverman.
A bogey-free 6-under 64 for @JhonattanVegas was good enough for the early lead @TheHondaClassic.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/LB4RmICM4g
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 28, 2019
The 34-year-old Vegas hasn’t won since the 2017 RBC Canadian Open, and his best finish on Tour this far this season is T10 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Hey, let’s hear a cheer for the old(er) guys! All five of the top players on the leaderboard are 31 years old or older. Ben Silverman is the youngest at 31, followed by first-round leader Jhonnatan Vegas at 34, then Lucas Glover at 39 (-4), Zach Johnson at 43 (-4), and Ernie Els, who shot a four-under-par 66 at 49 years old. Further proof that good golf is ageless.
Pleased with my start today, 4-under par 66 @TheHondaClassic. Made some nice putts out there & a good way to begin the Florida Swing, always one of my favourite little stretches @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/IOWaCCuaJD
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) February 28, 2019
After finishing T27 in Mexico, Brooks Koepka is back on the prowl in Florida. The fourth-ranked player in the world opened with a three-under-par 67, which could have been a lot better, were it not for an unfortunate double bogey on the par-3 15th.
From 182 yards ➡️ 4 feet.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/VKATCRk7mU
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 28, 2019
Still, Koepka bounced back with a birdie on 16 (see highlight above) and carded six birdies on the day. He’s currently three shots back of Vegas’s lead.
Several other big-name players are also only three shots back: Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler and Billy Horschel are all within striking distance.
