Beau Hossler delivered an impressive performance with a 10-under par 60, securing a two-stroke lead during the rain-delayed first round of the PGA Wyndham Championship. The 29-year-old American golfer capitalized on the soft conditions at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, achieving his career-low round on the PGA Tour by two strokes. "I hit a lot of greens," Hossler commented, attributing his success to his precision with approach shots that landed close to the hole.
Hossler's round was highlighted by remarkable putting, sinking 136 feet of putts while missing only two greens in regulation. His ball-striking was particularly strong, especially with his 7- to 5-iron, leading to several tap-in birdies. Despite coming close, Hossler fell just short of joining the exclusive club of golfers who have shot a sub-60 round in a PGA event. The course, drenched by over five inches of rain from a tropical storm, posed a challenging backdrop as play was delayed until Friday and the round extended into Saturday morning.
As the first round continued, Billy Horschel positioned himself in second place with an eight-under score and two holes left to play. Canada's Nick Taylor was at seven-under with four holes remaining, while Ben Taylor, Brendon Todd, Austin Eckroat, and Matt Kuchar completed their rounds with a score of 64. Hossler's start was particularly noteworthy as he opened with five consecutive birdies followed by an eagle, making him a threat to break the all-time PGA Tour record low of 58, set by Jim Furyk in 2016.
Hossler, still seeking his first PGA Tour victory, had his best-ever round on a course where he previously struggled, having made the cut only once in four appearances. His strong performance moved him up the PGA regular season standings, from 88th to a projected 51st, well within the top 70 needed to qualify for the playoff opener next week. Reflecting on his round, Hossler noted, "Expectations were to come out and try and get some good momentum. My swing has been feeling great the past month even though the results haven't been there. Today I just kind of put it together a little bit better."
ADD A COMMENT :