FT. WORTH, Texas (AFP) –
Zach Johnson reacts to a missed birdie putt on the eighth hole during the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial at the Colonial Country Club, on May 24, in Fort Worth, Texas. Jason Dufner continues to have the hot hand on the Tour, firing a five-under par 65 to lie one shot behind Johnson after the first round.
Jason Dufner continues to have the hot hand on the USPGA Tour, firing a five-under par 65 to lie one shot behind leader Zach Johnson after the first round of the Colonial.
“A fantastic way to start,” Dufner said on Thursday. “You have some questions after a win last week, how are you going to respond to that? I came out really quick today and got some birdies.”
Former winner Johnson grabbed the first-round lead with a six-under 64.
“Today was great,” Johnson said of his 13th consecutive round in the 60s at this event.
“I got off to a good start. I just hit quality shots. I didn’t put myself ever in a position that was too worrisome.
“The times when I was maybe just in the rough and I had to get myself up and down, I managed to do that.
“I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I made some long putts, but I missed some shorter ones, so it probably evened out in the end.”
Dufner won his first PGA title on April 29 at New Orleans, got married the next weekend and joined Hunter Mahan as 2012′s only repeat winners by taking the title last week at the Byron Nelson Championship in nearby Irving.
Jason Dufner watches his approach shot on the fifth hole during the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial at the Colonial Country Club, on May 24, in Fort Worth, Texas. Dufner continues to have the hot hand on the Tour, firing a five-under par 65 to lie one shot behind leader Zach Johnson after the first round.
Dufner was in a group at five-under along with fellow Americans Harris English, Tom Gillis and Kyle Reifers.
He birdied five of his first eight holes at Colonial Country Club. He tossed in two more birdies and two bogeys for his share of second.
Dufner began his tournament with a round in the 60s for the eighth time in 14 starts this year.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Argentina’s Andres Romero were in a group at four-under 66, just two shots back of the leader.
Garcia, seeking his first US tour win in four years, had an eagle at the par-five first — his 10th hole of the day.
Garcia won this event in 2001 — the first of his seven US tour titles — and Johnson won two years ago for his most recent PGA Tour victory.
American Rickie Fowler opened with a two-under 68. Fowler has a victory and a tie for second in his last two tournaments.
Matt Kuchar, winner of The Players Championship two weeks ago, carded a 72.
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