American duo Mark Hubbard and Matthew NeSmith are shared leaders at the Phoenix Open after Thursday’s opening round.
The exciting event teed off at TPC Scottsdale with a limited number of fans allowed to attend one of golf’s most vocal venues.
Hubbard and NeSmith both opened their accounts with respective rounds of 63, finishing the day on eight under par.
NeSmith also came agonisingly close to an ace on the famous par-three 16th hole with his tee shot stopping inches close of the cup.
First time playing @WMPhoenixOpen …
… knocks it to 6 inches on the 16th. ?@Matt_KneeSmith is 5-under thru 7 and leads by 1. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/QNSSDma8cb— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 4, 2021
It’s given the pair a slender one-shot lead going into Friday’s second round with Nate Lashley and Sam Burns in T3.
Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm both settled for rounds of 68 to conclude Thursday’s action on three under par and in T21.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen is only a further stroke back on two under, following his opening-round 69.
Dylan Frittelli remained even par for his round with Charl Schwartzel going one over, while Erik Van Rooyen settled for two over par.
