Ludvig Aberg shot a opening nine-under-par 63 to take a two-shot lead at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego on Wednesday.
Danny Walker and Hayden Springer each delivered a seven-under opening round to tie for second, with the former having the best score of the day on the tougher South Course.
Åberg opened his round on the back nine and got off to a quick start with birdies on four of his first five holes. He delivered an eagle on the 520-yard 17th hole, his eighth of the day, and shot 30 on his first nine holes.
After another birdie on his 10th hole of the day, Åberg made his only bogey on the 495-yard par-four second hole, then finished the day with three more birdies.
“I felt like I was driving the ball really well,” Åberg said. “Golf becomes a lot easier when you can do that. Even though the north is a little easier than the south, it still presents its challenges and you still have to hit.
“We’re extremely pleased with the way we came out of the gates today and played some good golf.”
Walker posted his 65 while hitting all 18 greens in regulation to become just the 12th player to accomplish the feat on the South Course since 1980. The PGA Tour rookie is the first to accomplish the feat since Martin Laird went 18-for-18 in the third. round in 2019
Walker was the only player to open on the South Course to come within four shots of Aberg, with just two more in the front 18.
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland
He hit every green in regulation, cashing in seven birdies to join Springer in hitting his opening hole.
“Yeah, it was just fairways and greens. One of those days where the driver worked (and) never really forced the issue there,” Walker said. “I was really just trying to hit the middle of the green a lot of times and then hit some shots.”
Defending champion Matthieu Pavon carded a 1-over 73 on the South Course and is tied for 100th.
Watch the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream PGA Tour, majors and more contract-free NOW.
