Bernhard Langer shot a 9-under par 63 on Friday at TPC Woodlands and leads the Insperity Invitational by three strokes after round one.
The 63 by Langer, who is a three-time winner of the Insperity, matches a course record and sets a personal best on the PGA Tour and the senior circuit for the 60-year at TPC Woodlands.
Langer signed for a bogey-free card comprised of a four-birdie 32 and a five-gain 31 on the back, good for the day’s low round.
“It was a great day out there. Started off with not my best tee shot. I just cut the corner too much, hit the tree and came down about 120 yards off the tee or something, 150. I don’t know. But managed to slice it around the corner and hit 8-iron in there, made a putt,” said an excited Langer.
“So still made birdie, got away with that one. And then another birdie on 2 with three great shots. Just continued to play pretty good, give myself chances.
“Hit one loose shot there on 7. My tee shot went in the bunker and had really not a good lie in the fairway bunker, so I couldn’t even — I didn’t feel comfortable going for the green over the water.
“So I went way right in case I hit it a little heavy or something so it wouldn’t go in the water. Managed to make good contact, got it about pin high, but it was 30 yards to the right of the green and chipped it in from there. So that was an extra bonus.
“And then really played well from No. 9 onwards. Don’t think I hit one loose shot from that point on, so the last 10 holes were really, really good. Got it up and down on 8 out of the
trap. As I said, from starting on 9, I had every hole I was pretty much putting for birdie. I made some and I missed some.”
Langer, who got off to a surprisingly slow start this season, entered the week off two runner-up finishes and ranks No. 5 on the Charles Schwab Cup money list. A win this week, and he would move to a very familiar spot: No.1 in the standings.
Tied for second were Scott Dunlap and Jeff Maggert, who posted matching 66s. A logjam of six players sit T4 at 5-under 67, including Scott McCarron, Tom Lehman, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Mark Calcavecchia, Sandy Lyle, and Doug Garwood.
Defending champion John Daly shot even-par 71 and sits T54.
TOP 10 LEADERS
1. Bernhard Langer -9
2. Jeff Maggert -6
2. Scott Dunlap -6
4. Scott McCarron -5
4. Tom Lehman -5
4. Miguel Angel Jimenez -5
4. Mark Calcavecchia -5
4. Sandy Lyle -5
4. Doug Garwood -5
10. Nine players -4
VIDEO: ROUND 1 HIGHLIGHTS
QUOTABLE
“Yeah, somebody asked me that earlier today. I think when I was 18 or 20 I might have weighed about 155 and now I’m about 165, 167. So I’ve gained a little bit, but that’s normal.”
– Bernhard Langer, on his fitness at 60
