Rickie Fowler missed a birdie putt on his final hole, but was happy to accept a share of the lead through 18 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The two-time runner-up matched Justin Thomas, his housemate this week, on 64 with the pair then joined by Harold Varner III later in the day.
Fowler started on No 10 and jump-started his round with an eagle on the par-5 13th after knocking his 236-yard approach shot to 17 feet. He also two-putted from 45 feet for birdie on No 3, but misread a putt on the par-4 ninth that would have given him the outright lead — and a chance to needle his housemate.
‘I was really hoping I was going to make that last putt,’ he said. ‘We’re sharing a house this week, so I wanted bragging rights at dinner tonight.’
Thomas opened 2019 with a third-place finish at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, and was tied for 16th at the Sony Open in Hawaii with four rounds in the 60s.
Playing in near-perfect conditions in the morning , the 2017 PGA Championship winner started on the back nine and went out in 2-under 34 with birdies on No 15 and 18. Thomas’ 9-foot putt on 18 began a string of six birdies in seven holes, including five on putts inside of 5 feet to shoot a 5-under 30 on the front nine.
‘I was in control of everything tee to green,’ Thomas said. ‘I didn’t necessarily get off to the greatest start score-wise, but I felt like I was playing well. Those front pins were tucked pins, very hard to get to. It was nice to get finally get off to a good start at this event.’
Varner III overcame an early bogey with three straight birdies, moving himself in position to tie for the lead.
South Africa’s Branden Grace hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation during his first round en route to a 4-under par first round.
Grace rolled in a 22-foot putt for birdie on his 16th hole of the day to get within two, but a bogey on his last saw him drop back into the group sharing 11th.
Compatriot Charl Schwartzel hit just 6 of 14 fairways and 9 of 18 greens as he struggled to a 74.
