Marc Leishman starts fast at AT&T Byron Nelson

DALLAS – Marc Leishman loved the previous venue – and with good reason. In nine starts at TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas, he posted six top-15 finishes, including a couple of third-place ties. Plus, that course had been ultra-kind to his fellow Aussies. Jason Day, Adam Scott and Steven Bowditch all won there in the last 10 years. So when the AT&T Byron Nelson announced its move to Trinity Forest, Leishman was, well, a little dubious. “I would’ve been this place’s harshest critic just because I love that other place at Las Colinas,â€� Leishman said. “But I got here and looked out past the clubhouse and thought, ‘This is going to be really good.’ “I enjoyed it today.â€� Yes he did – to the tune of a 10-under 61, in which he hit all 14 fairways, 17 of 18 greens and posted two eagles to take a three-shot lead after Thursday’s first round. It was his lowest score in 797 career rounds on the PGA TOUR … and, of course, immediately becomes the course record (but one stroke shy of the tournament record). Leishman, whose previous TOUR low was 62, acknowledged it was one of his best rounds but couldn’t match the 64 he shot in the third round of the 2015 Open Championship. “That wasn’t a lower score, but it was a better round under the circumstances,â€� he said. “But 61 – I’ll take that any day.â€� Leishman, like the others in the 156-man field, wasn’t sure what kind of scores to expect at Trinity Forest, making its TOUR debut as a host course. But no wind and a fair set-up – “I think the TOUR has done a nice job of coming in and making sure they eased us into it a little bit,â€� said Sam Saunders — offered players a green light. Six players in the morning wave shot 6-under 65s, including the first three out of the gate – Saunders, Aaron Wise and Keith Mitchell. Leishman then followed in the afternoon that also included the next two lowest scores – 64s by Jimmy Walker and J.J. Spaun. Fast and firm conditions led to lots of roll-out; Leishman said he was hitting his 3-wood more than 300 yards, “which I never do.â€� In all, the course played to a stroke average of 69.547, with 121 players shooting even par or better. One of those was Jordan Spieth, the Dallas native who’s a member of Trinity Forest and played about 40 rounds out here. He wasn’t thrilled with his 2-under 69 that left him on the projected cutline after the first round. “It was about as easy tee to green as I’ve ever seen this place,â€� Spieth said. “You know, ball was running a lot, you didn’t have to hit a whole lot of club off the tees and without the wind, you know, that’s normally the defense of the golf course. “So, not surprised to see a low round. 10 under is an incredible round anyway for Marc. Not surprised to see low scores. Wish I got more out of it, honestly.â€� Trinity Forest co-designer Ben Crenshaw is not concerned about the low scores. “We don’t care what they shoot,â€� he said. “They’re all learning the course, learning to play it under pretty benign conditions today. If the wind blows, they’ll see a different course.â€� The wind is, indeed, supposed to blow the next two days – especially on Saturday, with gusts up to 30 mph in the forecast. If that holds, don’t expect other players to match Leishman’s new record. “I think if it was soft it would be a very difficult,â€� Leishman said, “but it’s firm so I really like it. I think with a bit of wind it’s going to be very different. “Some years this tournament, 20 under is going to win and some years 5- 6 under will win it. All weather-dependent.â€� So if it’s 20 under … well, Leishman’s already halfway there. NOTABLES As Jordan Spieth addressed the media following his 2-under 69, he was holding a putter in one hand and two golf balls in the other. It was clearly evident where he was planning to go after answering the last question. “It was the putter that cost me today, but 2 under is still a nice grind. It could’ve been worse.â€� Once out on the practice green, he made a few longer putts and then looked at caddie Michael Greller as if to ask, “Where was that earlier today?â€� Fresh off his tie for second at THE PLAYERS Championship last week, Jimmy Walker maintained the momentum with a bogey-free 64. “Last week was great. A big week for me, especially what’s been going on and I feel a lot better now,â€� Walker said. “Golf game seems like it’s coming back.â€� Just over a year ago, Walker was battling Lyme Disease. J.J. Spaun was one of nine players who hit all 14 fairways on Thursday. But he said it was his putting – which has been a particular trouble spot this year — that keyed his 64. He entered this week ranked 162nd in Strokes Gained: Putting. “I worked really hard this week on my putting and my stroke and I feel like that time I put in really showed today because I made a lot of really good putts today, lot of putts that I wouldn’t have made a couple weeks ago,â€� Spaun said. Branden Grace’s son Roger was born April 25. Suffice to say Branden has not managed much sleep lately. “It’s been good the last couple days since I’ve been here,â€� he joked after his 67 on Thursday. Grace added that both Roger and wife Nieke are “doing awesome. It’s amazing how you can love a little man like that so much.â€� Sam Saunders made a scouting trip to Trinity Forest a year ago, just before the start of last year’s AT&T Byron Nelson. He likes that the course doesn’t favor any one particular style. “As you can see by the names on the leaderboard, it suits all types of players,â€� he said. Saunders, Aaron Wise and Keith Mitchell were in the first group out Thursday and obviously fed off each other’s good play. They combined for 21 birdies against just three bogeys to each shoot 65. “I think that’s the first time something like that happened to me,â€� Mitchell said. “It definitely helps. Lot of positive energy going around.â€� QUOTABLES I hate playing in a dome. I’m excited there’s wind. I wish it was windy every day.Today it didn’t have really any defense.It’s very different than what we see in the States, especially here in Dallas. I think it’s a fun change. SUPERLATIVES Low round: Marc Leishman’s 10-under 61. The tournament record is 60, shot on different courses – Keegan Bradley (2013), Aaron Oberholser (2006) and Sam Snead (1957). Asked if this was the lowest round shot by anybody at the relatively new Trinity Forest, a course official said it was the lowest in a “tournament competition.â€� Longest drive: Robert Garrigus with a 365-yard drive on the 18th hole. Longest putt: Denny McCarthy with a putt of 61 feet, 10 inches for birdie on the 10th hole. Hardest hole: The 480-yard par-4 13th, which played to a stroke average of 4.212, with just 14 birdies. The par-4 fourth yielded just six birdies but played to a stroke average of 4.167. Easiest hole: The 570-yard par-5 seventh, which played to 541 yards on Thursday. The stroke average was 4.365, with five eagles and 101 birdies. Greens in regulation: Keith Mitchell and Ethan Tracy hit all 18 greens Thursday. Each shot 65. SHOT OF THE DAY CALL OF THE DAY For play-by-play coverage of Round 2 at the AT&T Byron Nelson, listen at PGATOUR.COM.

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