JT Poston shot a 10-under 62 to take a one-shot lead after day one of The American Express at La Quinta Country Club.
The 31-year-old American started on the back nine and recovered from his only bogey on the par-4 first as he finished his round with an eagle and nine birdies.
Justin Lower is a shot behind Poston after a bogey-free 63 that included back-to-back eagles, a shot ahead of an eight-under pack that includes Jason Day, Joel Dahmen, Chris Kirk, JJ Spaun and Matti Schmid.
“When I feel like I'm hitting really well, I feel like I have all the shots and I can get the ball closer to the hole and really take advantage of those clubs,” Poston, a three-time PGA Tour winner, said. “I feel like I can go out there and make a bunch of birdies like I did today, so a tournament like this kind of lends itself to that.”
Canadian Nick Taylor built on his Sony Open victory last Sunday with a 65 at Pete Dye Stadium. Tony Finau is seven under, while Justin Thomas shot a 67 and Patrick Cantlay carded a 68.
JT Poston carded an eagle and nine birdies for a one-stroke lead at The American Express
Blades Brown, a 17-year-old prodigy playing on a sponsor's exemption, shot a 72 in his first round as a professional. After bogeying his second hole and double bogeying the third, the high school student from Nashville, Tenn., settled down and strung together three straight birdies before finishing with 12-even par.
The American Express is the third event of the new PGA Tour season and one of only two pro-ams on the calendar, carrying over from the event's long history as the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had planned to play but pulled out 10 days ago to give his right hand injury more time to heal following his freak Christmas accident.
Defending champion Nick Dunlap shot a 67 at La Quinta in his return to the tournament where he became the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour.
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