A two-hour weather delay to the opening day of the Houston Open meant many in the 144-player field were unable to complete their first 18 holes on Thursday. But three players who did get all 18 in happened to be three of the top-5 ranked players in the field.
World No. 8 Rickie Fowler posted a 6-under 66 and sits T3 in the clubhouse. The 29 year-old Oklahoma State product finished his first day with just one bogey offset by seven birdies. He is just one back of Lucas Glover, Kevin Tway, and Sam Saunders, who share the clubhouse lead at 7-under 65.
Meanwhile, world No.4 Jordan Spieth shot a 4-under 68 to sit T16, alongside Henrik Stenson.
Starting on the back nine at the Golf Club of Houston, Spieth made birdies on 10 and 13 to quickly get to 2 under after just four holes. Five-straight pars, though, saw the reigning British Open champ make the turn stuck at 2 under.
A third birdie on No. 1 was quickly wiped out by back-to-back bogeys on 3 and 4, but after settling down with two pars, Spieth closed with a hat trick of gains on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 to sign for a 4-under 68.
Stenson’s 68 was bogey-free with four birdies, highlighted by a back-to-backs on Nos. 1 and 2 (his 10th and 11th).
