PGA Tour: Cantlay, Hodges and Lee make hay while the sun shines in the California desert
- Trio fire in host of birdies during opening round of The American Express, with Patrick Cantlay and Lee Hodges shooting 10-under par
- Korean KH Lee finishes two shots further back at event that uses three courses for first three rounds
Patrick Cantlay and Lee Hodges got off to hot starts, KH Lee had a sizzling round of his own, and there were birdies galore in the desert during the first round of The American Express on Thursday.
Cantlay and Hodges shot matching 10-under par 62s at the La Quinta course, while the Korean’s 10 birdies in his eight-under 64 came at the Stadium Course during the PGA Tour’s event in California, which uses three courses for the first three rounds.
Defending champion Si Woo Kim opened with a 68 at La Quinta, while countryman Seungyul Noh (Stadium Course) and Taiwan’s CT Pan (Nicklaus Course) also returned 68s.
“Having this low score makes me happy,” said Lee, who won his first Tour event at the AT&T Byron Nelson last May. “I had a tough start, made a bogey [on his first hole on the 10th] but I kept positive thinking and my putting was very good. I controlled my iron play really well.”
The Korean was in full flow on Thursday and closed with three birdies, but rued an untimely bogey on the par-5 fifth after finding water with a wayward drive
“I played well through 11 holes, but on the fifth, I hit a missed shot into the water, the par-5,” he said. “So I’m so disappointed a little bit, but I tried to be more positive and had a strong finish. It was good.
“My iron play was on point. I had some trouble with putting these days but it went in whenever I had a birdie chance. I could keep the flow and made some great play until the end. After the win at AT&T, I desire for more wins. I want to hold another trophy. I want to move up in the world ranking as well.”