Weather is ally of two on the coast

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Sunshine and tranquil conditions turned the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am into paradise Thursday, and it was particularly ideal for big hitters Robert Garrigus and Dustin Johnson.

Garrigus reached the uphill, 529-yard seventh hole at Spyglass Hill with a 5-iron and holed a 50-foot eagle putt, then closed out his first round with consecutive birdies for a 7-under 65.

Johnson, another natural athlete with height and power, holed out a 9-iron from 151 yards for eagle on the first hole at Pebble Beach and played bogey-free for a 65.

Such scores are rare at Spyglass and Pebble except when the wind and rain go on hiatus, which was the case on a gorgeous afternoon on the Monterey Peninsula. And there’s a big advantage with length on soft courses in chilly weather.

“I look forward to golf courses playing long. That’s my game,” said Garrigus, who is making his 90th start on the PGA Tour and found his name atop the leaderboard for the first time after any round.

Rich Beem isn’t particularly long, but he did practically nothing wrong.

The former PGA champion hasn’t been back to the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am since 2000, and he had no intention of returning until he lost his card last year and could no longer choose where he wanted to play. But he was loving it Thursday, opening with three birdies and finishing with two more.

The only drama came early, when Beem felt a few drops of rain on the first hole at Pebble Beach and asked his caddie for the umbrella.

“What umbrella?” Bill Heim replied.

Turns out it had been misplaced, and Beem dashed into the pro shop to borrow one. He didn’t need it, as the sun quickly emerged and the birdies started falling.

Also at 66 were Vaughn Taylor (Pebble Beach) and Charley Hoffman (Spyglass Hill).

Vijay Singh, in his first tournament since minor knee surgery after the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, opened with a 72 at Poppy Hills, while double major winner Padraig Harrington struggled to a 74 on the same course.

Phil Mickelson had a 72 at Spyglass.

Davis Love III was among the early leaders until he dropped a few shots coming in and had to settle for a 69.