LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Taiwan’s Kevin Yu, chasing a first US PGA Tour title, carded eight birdies in his eight-under par-64 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Wednesday.
Yu, a former world amateur No. 1 who missed four months after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee last February, edged a stroke clear of world No. 6 Patrick Cantlay and Japanese rookie Ryo Hisatsune with his bogey-free effort at Torrey Pines North Course, one of two in use for the tournament.
Both Cantlay and Hisatsune had eight birdies with one bogey on the North Course.
Meanwhile, Filipino-American Rico Hoey settled for a four-under-par 68 after bogeying the final hole.
The 27-year-old former national team member is playing with a chip on his shoulders after getting cut from the American Express tournament last week despite shooting 11-under after 54 holes.
Hoey sits at the 19th spot, four strokes behind leader Yu.
Yu said he played with no pressure that led to a red-hot start.
“I was just trying to play my best today, just trying to hit a lot of fairways, trying to make as many putts as I can,” Yu said.
“Greens a little bumpy, but I’m just trying to hit the best stroke I can out there, which I did today.”
On a day when staying out of the dense rough still wet from rain early in the week was key, Yu hit 12 of 14 fairways in regulation and 17 of 18 greens.
He said keeping it in the fairway was a priority, and after finishing tied for third after a final-round 63 at La Quinta on Sunday he was confident he could do so.
“I’ve been hitting very well,” he said.
“I don’t have to try to hit my maximum distance out there, I just have to hit a lot of fairways. That was just the plan today, and if I hit a fairway, like ball-striking has been pretty decent for me, too.”
Hisatsune also said finding the fairway was key, and led to a “comfortable” day, while Cantlay said the rain-soaked course allowed a more attacking style.
“I think it allows you to take on a few more of the hole locations just because the ball’s going to hit and stop,” Cantlay said. “I think overall the scores will be lower this week because of how wet it is.”
There was plenty of pressure on the leaders with 17 players within three strokes of the lead.
