A putting adjustment has helped fire Australian rookie Harrison Endycott into a share of the first-round lead at the PGA Tour's Bermuda Championship.
Two opening bogeys was hardly the start Endycott needed, but 16 holes later he was signing for a stunning nine-under-par 62 to be atop the leaderboard for the first time in his career on any tour anywhere.
The 26-year-old Sydneysider set aside his early blemishes to reel off seven birdies and two eagles to share the lead with American Austin Smotherman on Thursday.
"Had a slow start, started bogey, bogey, but I said to Dave, my caddie, 'I think it's time to get on a bit of a heater now'. It was great," Endycott said.
"I can't remember the last time I had a couple of eagles, two in a round."
Endycott took full advantage of the breathless conditions at Port Royal.
"I don't think we're going to get too many rounds out here with no wind," he said.
"I've been hitting it great and really did some good work with the putting over the last two weeks.
"I've been really struggling a little bit, just especially with confidence with it. Been hitting a lot of good putts and not seeing it going in.
"My coach and I came down with a pretty good strategy over the last two weeks at home to really get confident again. It was great today."
With a PGA scoring average of 71.506, this was by far the most impressive round for the world No.313 who played the last five holes five under.
Smotherman, who posted nine birdies in a clean card, is also just getting started.
He finished at No.137 in the FedEx Cup last year as a rookie, but was able to keep his full card when he moved into the top 125 with all the players defecting to LIV Golf.
With only one player from the top 50 in the world rankings competing this week - No.49 Seamus Power - nearly 75 per cent of the 132-man field broke 70 in perfect scoring conditions.
Among those were Australians Aaron Baddeley (65), Greg Chalmers and Cameron Percy (both 66).
Baddeley is tied for 16th after grabbing six birdies in a faultless round.
Endycott, Baddeley, Chalmers and Percy are trying to keep the trophy in Australian hands after Lucas Herbert broke through last year to claim his maiden PGA Tour win at the event.
Arjun Atwal, who went to Bermuda without having competed in the three months since his father died and without a guarantee of a tee time, finished with an eight-under 63 to be in a five-way bunch for third.
Atwal had not played golf of any kind since returning from India last Friday and was not sure how his 49-year-old body would hold up.
"I just haven't played golf, and forget walking," said Atwal, who only got into the field after Nicholas Lindheim withdrew with a back injury.
"I played 18 holes at Isleworth last Friday in a golf cart, and it's not the same as this place.
"So I'm really pleased I got through the 18 holes and I'm not worn out."
with AP
