Friday 29 May 2015 20:06, UK
Steven Bowditch outshone local hero Jordan Spieth on the opening day of the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament in Texas.
Australian Bowditch carded an eight-under 62 at a soggy Four Seasons Resort in Irving to claim a two-stroke lead over Jimmy Walker.
Bowditch, disqualified after 36 holes of last week's Crowne Plaza International, sunk a 24-foot birdie putt at the first and never looked back, picking up further shots at the fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth to turn in 30.
Three more birdies coming home equalled his previous best at the Viking Classic in 2011, with the Dallas native having no problems with the course's soft conditions.,
"I got off to a pretty good start, making a couple of putts early and I had some momentum and kept it in the fairways, which is a big thing out here with it being so well," Bowditch said. "Hopefully the [bad] weather stays away but it is really not as bad as everyone is making out."
Walker bounced back from a disappointing front nine to post 64 and take second place, finishing his round with three successive birdies from the seventh.
James Hahn and Ryan Palmer share third place on five under, while Spieth, who hails from Dallas, endured a frustrating day on the greens, finishing with a 69 after starting his round in fine style with a birdie.
The Masters champion only added one further birdie in his round, on the 10th, also dropping a shot on the 14th as he ended one under in his home-town event.
Watch day two of the AT&T Byron Nelson from 9pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
