Charl Schwartzel hit the ground running with an opening-round 66 at the 3M Open, which got under way at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota on Thursday.
It saw the South African finish the day on five under par and in T10, thanks to six birdies, three bogeys and an impressive eagle on the 18th to finish in emphatic style.
READ: Harding one behind after brilliant 63
Schwartzel managed to hit eight of the 14 fairways and 13 out of 18 greens in regulation with his work around the green in particularly yielding low-scoring opportunities.
The 35-year-old Schwartzel will start Friday’s second round three shots behind the early leader of the competition, Richy Werenski, who opened his account with a brilliant 63.
Dylan Frittelli also enjoyed a steady opening day at the 3M Open with a three-under-par 68, while Branden Grace and Erik van Rooyen found the going a bit more difficult with respective rounds 72 and 74 – a great deal of work left to do on Friday to avoid the cut.
