Blixt leads Greenbrier
Jonas Blixt was the pick of the bunch at the PGA Tour’s Greenbrier Classic after round one.
The defending champion impressed as he went around The Old White TPC, carding a six under 64 to earn himself a one shot lead going into round two on Friday.
Last year, consistent golf saw the Swede carded a 66 and three 67’s in a row to end up on 13 under for the tournament and win by two strokes.
On Thursday, Blixt got off to a decent start. Teeing off on the ninth, he would be two under after three holes. A bogey on the 13th would be cancelled out by a run of three birdies from the 16th to the 18th.
At the turn, Blixt sank another birdie on the first hole. A bogey on the fifth would set him back but an excellent 175 yard approach shot on the sixth left him with three-footer for another birdie.
“I got off to a good start and got some good breaks in the morning and it’s always nice to go out there and produce again after winning a golf tournament,” said the 30-year-old, whose late run at the Masters saw him finish tied for second.
“There was low wind – fantastic conditions in which to score low. Me and my caddie talked about it and we just fired everything today. We did that and it kind of worked out.”
“The golf course is in perfect shape, like last year. You come back with a bunch of confidence knowing that you won here before.
“If I can get my putter to work the way it did today, I felt like I hit the ball on line every time, and it could be a really good week.”
Blixt leads a whole host of players on five under, including American’s James Hahn, Jason Bohn, Jim Renner, Chris Kirk and Kiwi Danny Lee.
“The greens are just perfect, so that’s why you’re seeing the good scores,” said Kirk, who carded five birdies.
12 time PGA Tour winner Steve Striker is two strokes off the pace while WGC – Cadillac Championship winner Patrick Reed is on three under.
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