David Lipsky opened with a 7-under 64 to take the lead at the Procore Championship. He leads the field in Strokes Gained: Approach The Green (3.691).
The American’s best finish so far on the PGA Tour was T4 at the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans with his partner Aaron Rai, he best result this season was T9 at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
“I think that’s the funny thing about golf, especially the level of golf we play on the PGA Tour. It’s just something small, these little things that can make the difference in your game. I actually went back to Chicago, went back to Northwestern for a couple weeks. Well, to escape the heat in Vegas, but also to get some work in with my coach from school and just hang out.
“Sometimes you have to realize golf can be fun and I think I sort of forgot that along the way as I’m grinding it out week in and week out. Sometimes you’ve got to put things in perspective, take a step back. Sort of did that, seems like it’s working out. I can go out there and not be so focused on results and just enjoying myself, just trying to execute shots when I need to and not put too much emphasis on where am I on the FedExCup, what do I need to finish this week. I’m just sort of like this fall like, you know, series of events, that’s sort of my perspective going into it, just have a good time and take what comes at me.”
Scotland’s Martin Laird carded a 66 featuring five consecutive birdies from the 12th, his best round on Tour since the opening round of the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge (66, finished T37). He has recorded two top-10s in 19 starts on this season (T9/Cognizant Classic, T10/Puerto Rico Open).
“I made a terrible bogey my first hole, missed the green with my 9-iron and missed a short-ish putt. I had one of the luckiest breaks I had in a long time on my second hole. I kind of block cut my 6-iron into the par 3 and I thought it was going in the water and it hit one of the rocks on the wall and bounced 30 feet in the air and stayed up and finished in the fairway short of the green and I got up and down for par.
“Honestly, that could have been the whole tournament in terms of you start bogey, potentially double bogey, it’s hard to battle back from. I said to my caddie walking off the green that, you know, when you got a break like that you want to take advantage of it, so let’s see what we can do.
“Then it was kind of crazy then, I reeled off five birdies in a row, hit some really nice shots there the first few holes and then made a couple nice putts. Made a nice long putt on 16, which is always nice to see. Then birdied 18 to make six out of seven. Those streaks don’t happen often, so when they do they’re a lot of fun.
“From then on I didn’t play great the front nine after that, I didn’t hit enough fairways and was kind of out of position on holes but managed to kind of get myself around and a couple nice up-and-downs and shoot 1 under on that side and end up with a good score.”
Tied alongside Laird in second place at 6-under is American Patton Kizzire, his highest position after round one since the 2021 Valspar Championship (finished T60).
Defending champion Sahith Theegala (T22) opened with a 3-under 69. He seeks to become the second player to defend a title on Tour this season (Scottie Scheffler/THE PLAYERS Championship).
Opening-round scores of Presidents Cup captains and players in the field:
– International Team Captain Mike Weir (T22/-3) and Captain’s Assistant Camilo Villegas (T81/E)
– Three International team members: Min Woo Lee (T9/-4), Mackenzie Hughes (T37/-2), Corey Conners (T100/+1)
– US Team Captain’s Assistants: Stewart Cink (T54/-1), Kevin Kisner (T117/+2)
– Three US team members: Sahith Theegala (T22/-3), Wyndham Clark (T37/-2), Max Homa (T54/-1).
FedExCup Fall Notes
The 2024 Procore Championship marks the first year with Procore as title sponsor and is the first of the FedExCup Fall, a group of eight tournaments played after the Tour Championship that finalizes eligibility for the 2025 PGA Tour Season.
Nos. 1-50 in the FedExCup standings through the Tour Championship are locked in their positions while Nos. 51 and beyond carry their FedExCup points into the Fall; Nos. 51-60 through the FedExCup Fall will qualify for two Signature Events in 2024: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational.
Currently no players are projected to move into or fall out of Nos. 51-60.
Related: Todd Clements leading after first round at Royal County Down
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