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PGA golfer Jason Kokrak signs autographs before the start of Round 1 of the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open on Thursday at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz. Kokrak, a Warren native, shot a 1-over 72 to finish the day tied for 88th.
Palmer — Ryan, not Arnold — is the first-round leader at Phoenix Open
Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.
Ryan Palmer was back in his comfort zone with his trusted old putter model in the first round of the Phoenix Open.
“I pulled it out of the garage and was putting in my living room, then went outside in the backyard on my putting green, and I knew it was time to bring it back out,” the three-time tour winner said.
Holing seven birdie putts from 10-15 feet, Palmer finished off a 7-under 64 at dusk to take the lead Thursday in the suspended first round.
Warren’s Jason Kokrak got off to a hot start with four birdies in the first eight holes, then struggled with three bogeys and a double bogey to finish at 1-over 72.
Palmer switched back to the Odyssey putter after missing the cuts in his previous starts this year in the Sony Open and Humana Challenge.
“I used the exact same putter the last two years, and of course had two of the best years of my career,” he said. “But toward the end of the year last year, around the BMW, I just got frustrated with not making anything, so I thought I’d try something different, put a similar style head in play and actually had some success.
“But my first two weeks out here I could tell I wasn’t comfortable when I’d get over the short putts.”
Webb Simpson was a stroke back on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale.
The start of the round was delayed an hour because of frost, and play was suspended because of darkness at 6:05 p.m. with 42 players unable to finish.
“I knew I was going to be here in the morning for the second round, so I wasn’t worried about it if we had to come back and restart,” Palmer said. “So, I didn’t think about it and I just kept hitting shots and sticking to my game plan.”
Palmer had 27 putts and hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation. He birdied the par-5 15th after his drive landed in the middle of the fairway and rolled left into the water, and saved par on the short par-4 17th after also driving into the water.
“To make birdie there [15] after hitting it in the water, and then I get up on 17 and do the same thing, hit it in the water,” Palmer said. “I guess you could say I left a couple out there, but it was a great day for sure.”