PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Changes in weather and fortunes can happen without notice in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which seems to suit Hank LebiodaThese days, everything is fine.
Lebioda played six birdies on an eight-hole stretch, his sixth time on the PGA Tour. This gave him an 8-under 63 on Monterey Peninsulas Shore Course and a 1 shot lead after Thursdays opening round.
His main advantage was finishing before a pleasant, sunny day gave way to wind that could bend flagsticks and force players into removing caps before they putted.
Lebioda was one six players who were not able to win on the PGA Tour from the top 12 scores. He has no good strategy for success in tournaments that have multiple courses, so he must be ready for anything.
Lebioda said, This would be eight course in three weeks for us. He missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open Torrey Pines and American Express. Three courses this week in Palm Springs, two last weeks in San Diego and two this week. The best thing you can to do is to take care of yourself, relax, and be ready to go.
Three of the top 4 scores were scored at Monterey Peninsula. Kurt KitayamaMade four straight birdies at the turn and had an unbogey-free 64 Harry HallFive consecutive birdies were made and he was tied for first place until a late bogey on Number. 8. He also had 64.
The birdie streak at the front was pretty cool, because I think that I went bogey, then had a par the second hole, and then had five consecutive holes. Hall stated that it was great. When we went down the last two holes, it started blowing 45 miles per hour. It was insane. It was great to be able to get in at 7 oclock today.
Chad RameyPebble Beach: He had a 7 under 65. He was tied for first until he went into the front bunker at the par-3 17th, and took bogey.
Spyglass Hills highest score was won by Keith MitchellAt 5-under-67. It was the only course with an average score of over par. Mitchell was with a pair NFL quarterbacks. His amateur partner was Josh Allen from the Buffalo Bills. Kyle Allen from the Houston Texans was his caddie for this week.
The weather changes were not too severe. Its not like it snowed. Pebble Beach, the most exposed course, was the worst affected.
Will GordonHe tied for the lead at par at 8 under with three holes left. He lost 35 yards on the 16th fairway in a strengthening wind and made bogey. He was 30 yards from the pin on the par-3 17th, which is the most popular location for amateurs. He also missed a shot.
He finished his round with a three-bogey. His approach into the ocean rocks to the fairway caused him to crash into them and had the course reloaded. He was caught in a strong wind from the ocean and ended up behind a tree. He then hit the bunker green with that tree.
In just three holes, he was tied for the lead and tied for 24th.
Spyglass Hill was the celebrity rotation, considered the toughest in calm conditions. U.S. Open champion Matt FitzpatrickA three-time major champion Jordan SpiethEach achieved a score of 71, Viktor HovlandHad a 70.
Hovland is participating in the tournament for the first-time, although he won U.S. Open. Amateur at Pebble Beach, and low amateur at Pebble during the 2019 U.S. Open.
Spieth, who won the 2017 event, posted a mix of birdies and bobeys and had to hold on for dear life during the final hour, when temperatures dropped and the wind picked up.
Spieth stated that the wind was so strange in the last four holes. It went from nothing, to flipping, and then blowing about 25, in the opposite direction to the forecast. It throws us for a loop when were prepping for something. We have to adjust.
But I had a great last three holes and that always puts a smile on my face.
He played them in 1 Under, with a tough save from a fly lie in the rough. He had no idea how the wind would affect his ball when it got in the air.