David HearnDARRYL DYCK
David Hearn is two shots off the lead after an opening round 66 at the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia.
The Brantford, Ont., golfer had five birdies and a bogey to equal his best opening round score of the year.
Trevor Immelman, with seven birdies and a bogey, leads the way after shooting 6-under 64, one better than five other golfers including Billy Mayfair, Derek Lamely, Webb Simpson, Gary Woodland and Steven Bowditch.
"Any time you shoot a number like that it's exciting," said Immelman, who is looking for his first top-10 result since 2008. "It's been a frustrating couple years not being able to swing the way I want to swing and practice the way I want to practice. I've definitely seen signs of improvement, albeit slow progress, there's been progress."
Eighteen months after winning the Masters in 2008, Immelman underwent surgery to help with a debilitating case of tendinitis in his left wrist. He returned to the tour in 2010 and while the results have been slow to materialize, he has made 11 of 16 cuts this year.
"After the surgery it was five months before I could putt and six months before I could hit," he said. "So it's just frustration because I know that I got better golf in me. When you're out there shooting mediocre scores and struggling to make cuts and stuff like that, mentally it's not ideal."
Chris Baryla of Vernon, B.C., is three shots back after shooting 67 late in the day. It's his best opening round score of the year as he goes in search of his first cut of the season in his 15th PGA start.
Adam Hadwin, coming off a tie for fourth at last week's RBC Canadian Open, opened with an even par 70. That has to be considered a good start for the Abbotsford, B.C. golfer who only saw the course for the first time today, thanks to several cancelled flights and the airlines losing his luggage and golf bag on the way to West Virginia. After making the turn in 1-under, Hadwin had three bogeys and two birdies in his final six holes.
Matt McQuillan of Kingston, Ont. stumbled to an opening round 74.
Phil Mickelson scrambled to an even par 70 as well with four bogeys and three birdies on the front nine alone.
"It was a disappointing overall score for me," said Mickelson, who played with Tom Watson and Stuart Appleby. "I played well enough to score low. I missed six putts inside six feet, and I just can't do that."
Appleby, who carded a 59 in the final round a year ago, opened with a 71 this time around.
"Very different golf course," Appleby said of the changes made to The Old White course. "Certainly Mr. (Jim) Justice (the owner of The Greenbrier) has made maybe my score the last time you'll see that anywhere."
"Just couldn't seem to get the fire started. Couldn't get it going. Had some opportunities, but just didn't have enough opportunities in that sort of inside 15-foot range. Just got off to a dodgy start."
Watson, who skipped the U.S. Senior Championship in order to fulfill a promise he made a year ago to play in this event, struggled with four bogeys on his final nine holes to finish at 5-over 75.
"My game today was a little bit spotty. My putter especially was not very good," said Watson. "Didn't make a birdie today, and that's the first time for that to happen in a long time. Doesn't sit very well with me."
The Old White course underwent a makeover since Appleby's 59 which included lengthened tee boxes and reseeded greens that are less receptive to approach shots.
The course surrendered 81 under-par rounds on the first day last year, but only 41 players broke par on Thursday.
After no one recorded a bogey-free round at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club last week in Vancouver, four players managed error-free rounds on Thursday - Lamely, Will Strickler, J.P. Hayes and Spencer Levin.