Joe Durant fired an 8-under-par 64 to jump into the lead after the first round of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open on Friday in Endicott, New York.
Durant piled up nine birdies with a single bogey on his round at En-Joie Golf Club to earn a three-stroke lead over Ernie Els of South Africa and Jason Schultz.
"I think the putter definitely cooperated today," Durant said. "I didn't drive it that great. This is a tough driving golf course, the fairways are pretty narrow and if you just peel it a little bit one way or the other you tend to miss some fairways. But hit some really good recovery shots from the first cuts and whatnot."
Hot start ??@JoeDurant6 recorded nine birdies and finished with an 8-under 64 in the first round of the @dicksopengolf. pic.twitter.com/TpUICbrNxS
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) June 23, 2023
Durant, 59, has four wins on the PGA Tour Champions but none since the Ally Challenge in 2020. He tied for fourth at his most recent start, the American Family Insurance Championship.
"The biggest thing that I've been struggling with, I've been battling some injuries so I've been kind of swinging around them," Durant said.
"I finally feel decent enough to where I can actually use my legs a little bit rather than just kind of lifting the club and kind of slapping at it. I actually have a little more power now and just hitting it more solid, putting it a little better."
Els's bogey-free round of 67 was buoyed by a 4-under three-hole stretch. He birdied the par-3 fourth, eagled the par-5 fifth and birdied the par-4 sixth.
"I had a nice little run on the front nine," Els said. "I had quite a few opportunities on the back but I didn't quite take those opportunities, but 67's a good start."
Ernie Els with the soft hands and soft landing on 17 ??????@TheBig_Easy @dicksopengolf pic.twitter.com/Ccr6G7t16v
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) June 23, 2023
The 53-year-old former World No 1 has three PGA Tour Champions victories to his name, including last March at the Hoag Classic. He finished runner-up at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in 2021.
Schultz turned 50 earlier this year and is making his third start on the senior circuit. He recovered from an early bogey to make six birdies, including four over his final seven holes.
"It's still a learning experience. Like I said, I'm just playing golf, and I'm just trying to have fun and trying to hit – stack one shot on top of each other and not making it bigger than it is and just doing what I can to play well and have fun."
Ten players were tied at 4-under 68, the notable names including Brett Quigley, Ken Duke, Vijay Singh of Fiji, Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain. Defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland opened with a 3-under 69.