INZAI CITY, Japan (AP) — Brendan Steele finished with 4 consecutive birdies and shot a 6-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead on the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship.
“Everybody says if you happen to birdie 18, dinner tastes higher,” Steele said. “But 4 in a row is certainly, very nice and feels good.”
It was a blissful return to the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, where Steele was the runner-up a yr ago in the identical tournament behind winner Hideki Matsuyama.
“I find it irresistible here,” Steele said. “Loved the course last yr — really blissful be back.”
The Zozo Championship is the one PGA Tour event in Japan and has a handbag of $11 million. There aren’t any COVID-19 crowd-limit restrictions in place this yr.
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“Nice for us to have the opportunity to get out the hotel slightly bit this yr and luxuriate in the culture slightly bit,” Steele said. “So I’ve enjoyed it a ton.”
It was an enormous day for other Americans as well.
Adam Schenk was a shot back after a 65 on a rainy day on the course on the outskirts of Tokyo. Sam Ryder, Matthew NeSmith, and Keegan Bradley were two back.
Three more Americans were three behind: Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, and Maverick McNealy.
Defending champion Matsuyama, who won by five strokes a yr ago, got off to a slow start before a house crowd with a 71.
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