La Quinta, Calif. — PGA Tour rookie Davis Thompson played the first six holes, including back-to-back eagles, at 7-under and posted a career-low 10-under 62 at La Quinta on Thursday to double John Rahm. I was leading by a margin. Four others after the first round of American Express.
The 23-year-old got off to a great start with birdies on three of the first four holes and eagles on both par-5s on the fifth and sixth holes on the front nine. He made the turn on his 8-under 28. , the lowest front nine score in La Quinta.
Thompson got off to a perfect start on a sunny day in the Southern California desert, finishing two places behind Rahm, Tyler Duncan, Taylor Montgomery, Matty Schmidt and Sam Barnes.
“I just got off to a hot start and coasted in the middle,” said Thompson, who finished with a birdie. can keep rolling.”
World No. 4 Rahm, who won at Kapalua two weeks ago, posted a 64 at La Quinta, one of the three courses used in the first three rounds. After a 54-hole cut, the final round will take place on the PGA West’s Stadium Course.
“I’m picky about a lot of things, but it’s a great start to the tournament,” said Rahm. “You can’t really win on this golf course, but it certainly slows the pace. It’s a great start, a solid round of golf, great play. Hopefully, keep it up a week and get a little You can feel it from the tee to the green a little better.”
The field includes 5 of the top 7 players in the world and 10 of the top 20.
World No. 6 Xander Schauffele took the field after being tested for a cramp in his back muscles, but was in a group of nine with a 7-under 65.
Second-placed Scotty Schaeffler and fifth-placed Patrick Cantlay each hit 68 at La Quinta, while seventh-placed Will Zaratris hit 3-under 69 at Nicklaus Tournament Course.
Thompson said he had “good numbers” on the hole where he made the eagle after having a good warm-up.
“I actually missed the 6th green and chipped in. I had two good swings and had a really good chip and a really good putt,” he said.
It was his first competitive round at the PGA West, but Thompson said he stopped here to play the Nicklaus Course before heading to Hawaii for the Sony Open last week. “So I was a little used to it,” said Thompson, who will play at the course on Friday.
Rickie Fowler fired 68 shots at La Quinta. Fowler will enter the first tournament of 2023 after his two top 10 finishes in the fall. This includes his runner-up finish at the ZOZO Championship in Japan.
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