Friday 19 January 2018 12:19, UK
Jon Rahm made an explosive start to the CareerBuilder Challenge as he fired a superb 10-under 62 on a low-scoring first day in California.
Rahm made eight birdies and one eagle on the La Quinta course to earn a one-shot lead over the American trio of Austin Cook, Jason Kokrak and Andrew Landry as a remarkable 124 players in the 156-man field finished the day under par.
The Spaniard, who will defend his Farmers Insurance Open title at Torrey Pines next week, got off to the ideal start with birdies at the opening two holes and then rolled in a good putt for eagle at the fifth before picking up further shots at each of the next two holes.
After racing to the turn in 30, Rahm then reeled off three birdies in four holes from the 11th, and he closed with another at the 18th to ensure the outright lead.
"I feel super-rested and really in peace with my game and I think it shows," Rahm said. "Kapalua wasn't the best ball-striking week of my life, but I was able to scramble really well and keep calm and have a good score. Today, it was a complete opposite. I had one of the best ball-striking days of my life and just had it going."
Kokrak and Landry also took advantage of the generous La Quinta layout, with Landry making a spectacular eagle when he holed out from the fairway at the 469-yard 14th, while Cook's 63 was the best effort over the Nicklaus Tournament Course.
In-form left-hander Brian Harman is in contention for the third week running after he returned a confident 65 at La Quinta, while defending champion Hudson Swafford is a stroke further adrift along with Adam Hadwin, who lit up last year's event with a stunning 59.
Phil Mickelson's first outing of the year got off to a flying start as he birdied four of the first six holes, but the five-time major champion stuttered down the stretch and bogeyed 14 and 18 to slip back to two under par.
But American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed has much ground to make up after managing only one birdie against three bogeys on the Nicklaus layout, leaving him tied for 141st after day one.
