• Streelman, Hossler out in front at Pebble Beach

    Kevin Streelman
    Streelman leads the way
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    Kevin Streelman and Beau Hossler head into round two of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at the top of the quality-packed leaderboard.

    Streelman, a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, approached Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers before the start of their first round at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

    ‘I respect the heck out of you,’ Streelman told Rodgers, ‘but you’ve been beating the crap out of my Bears for 12 years.’

    On Thursday, Streelman pretty much beat the crap out of everybody who played Spyglass Hill, the toughest of the three courses in the tournament rotation. His seven-under 65 gave him a share of the lead with Beau Hossler, whose 65 came at Pebble Beach.

    Rory McIlroy made his tournament debut this week and his first start on the PGA Tour this season. McIlroy shot 68, with birdies on each of the par fives. McIlroy is playing with his dad, Gerry. Rory was taking his driver away on the 7th tee when he saw his dad’s shadow move, so he backed off the shot. He blocked the tee shot way right, then sent his second shot into the water. He gritted his teeth and didn’t say anything to his dad. Rory’s reward? He chipped in for birdie. ‘So I was like, you’re forgiven,’ Rory smiled.

    Jason Day is playing with Bachelor host Chris Harrison. When Day chipped in for birdie at the par-three 5th at Spyglass, Harrison gave him a rose. ‘I was pretty happy with that,’ said Day, who shot 69.

    South Africa is represented by four players with Tyrone van Aswegen leading the way after his 67. One further back is Branden Grace, who is making his first PGA Tour of the year.

    The Nedbank Golf Challenge winner turned in 36 with one birdie and one bogey in an uneventful opening nine, but made the most of the par fives  to move up the leaderboard with a birdie and an eagle to go with his birdie on the 12th at Pebble Beach. Rory Sabbatini is one behind Grace while Ernie Els struggled to a 77.

    Defending champion Jordan Spieth shot even-par 72 at Spyglass. He made one early birdie at the 4th hole, gave the stroke back at the 6th hole, then parred out from there.

    First round leaderboard:

    65 – Kevin Streelman, Beau Hossler

    65 – Aaron Wise

    66 – Matt Kuchar, Julian Suri

    66 – Cameron Percy, Patrick Cantlay

    67 – Chez Reavie, Troy Merritt, Will Zalatoris, Rob Oppenheim, Paul Casey (ENG) Dustin Johnson, Keith Mitchell, Dou Zecheng (CHN)

    67 – Shane Lowry (IRL), Jon Rahm (ESP), Charley Hoffman, Talor Gooch, Chris Kirk, Tyrone Van Aswegen (RSA), Peter Malnati, Jonas Blixt (SWE)

    68 – Rory McIlroy (NIR), Chris Stroud, Stephan Jaeger (GER), Jimmy Walker, Branden Grace (RSA), Ted Potter Jr, Ben Crane, Zhang Xinjun (CHN)

     

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