Christiaan Bezuidenhout opened with a two-under-par 68 on Thursday for a share of 11th after the first round of the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
He started his round on the 10th and made 11 straight birdies before he picked up his first shot with a birdie on the third. He immediately dropped his only shot of the day with a bogey on the fourth. Birdies on six and seven put him three shots off the lead which was held at five-under-par 65 by Charley Hoffman.
Hoffman was one clear of five players on four-under, including Tony Finau and reigning Open champion Brian Harman.
Garrick Higgo had a poor start, carding a three-over-par 73 for a share of 98th.
Scottie Scheffler failed to break par in the opening round for the first time this year on a tough afternoon of blustery conditions and a new feel at renovated Colonial Country Club that seemed to befuddle just about everyone. He had a two-over 72.
Hoffman had to deal with wind that gusted in the 20mph range, putting a premium on shots into greens that were particularly firm from being so new.
Only 45 players from the 132-man field broke par, a stark contrast from the record scoring last week at the PGA Championship. Max Homa failed to make a birdie and posted a 78, his highest score at a non-major since the Memorial four years ago.
