Two weeks ago, one of the co-leaders was so far from the cut line on his final hole that he uncorked “The Snail,” a playful putting grip where he held his left hand on the grip and his right pinkie finger — and only his right pinkie finger — around the bottom of the shaft. This week, the snail is likely staying in its shell. “Ideally a tap-in on 16 or a tap-in with like a two-shot lead on 18 for the win — those would be the two situations to break it out,” he said. Here are three things you need to know after Thursday’s first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
Mark Hubbard and Matthew NeSmith lead
Mark Hubbard had only about a snail’s length on most of his birdie putts on his back nine.
Four feet on the par-5 13th. Sixteen inches on the par-5 15th. Five feet on the par-3 16th. Three feet on the par-4 17th. His 19-footer on the par-4 18th was longer than the other four combined. Added all up, it was an eight-under 63 and a share of a one-stroke lead with Matthew NeSmith.
“I found a little something, especially with the driver, in my backswing,” Hubbard said. “I was kind of bringing it a little inside and just kind of getting stuck. I straightened that out on about 12 or 13 and really clicked into gear for the last couple, and I putted well all day.”
NeSmith played the back nine one stroke better, with birdies on 10, 14, 16 and 17 and an eagle on 13. He and Hubbard are one shot ahead of Nate Lashley and Sam Burns and two ahead of Steve Stricker.
“It was really good,” NeSmith said. “Drove it really good, hit the irons good, putted really well, hit some great short game shots, kind of everything kind of lined up really nicely. Just made it pretty easy on myself. Didn’t really get in trouble very much. Hit a lot of fairways, did everything you’re kind of supposed to do.”
U.S. Ryder Cup captain is two shots back
Lashley made seven birdies and Burns nine on their way to their 64s. Stricker, the 53-year-old U.S. Ryder Cup captain, was grouped with Padraig Harrington, the European captain, and beat him by six shots with his 65.
“Felt like the old Steve Stricker,” Stricker said. “I am old, but I don’t feel 53 or 4. I feel like I still have a little bit of game left in me.”
Three shots back of Hubbard and NeSmith were Xander Schauffele, Keegan Bradley, Billy Horschel, Tom Hoge, Ted Potter Jr., and Kyoung-Hoon Lee.
Jordan Spieth is four shots back back
Among other players, Jordan Spieth shot a 67 and is four shots back, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm are five behind, and Rory McIlroy is seven strokes off the lead.