Round 1 Notes – Verizon Heritage
Justin Leonard’s opening-round 66 is his best start ever at the Verizon Heritage. It matches his second-best score at Harbour Town (set on two previous occasions) and is two shy of the 64 he posted in the second round on his way to victory in 2002. He is making his 12th start at the Verizon Heritage, with his victory in 2002 his lone top-10 finish. He enjoyed his second-best finish with last year’s T16 effort.Leonard has now held at least a share of the first-round lead eight times during his career on the PGA TOUR, with his last coming at the 2005 Stanford St. Jude Classic. He has carried the 18-hole lead on to victory three times, including the 2005 Stanford St. Jude Classic, 2003 Honda Classic and the 2000 Valero Texas Open.
Lucas Glover (66) opened with a sub-70 score for the first time in his six starts at the Verizon Heritage. His previous best start was a 1-under 70 in 2006 – the only other time he broke par in an opening round. He has now held at least a share of the 18-hole lead four times during his TOUR career, including most recently the 2006 PGA Championship (finished T46).
Davis Love III (a five-time winner at the Verizon Heritage), Justin Leonard (winner of the 2002 Verizon Heritage) and Lucas Glover all opened up with a 5-under 66 to share the opening-round lead at the 40th playing of the Verizon Heritage. Two-time winner Stewart Cink (2000, 2004) headlines a list of 10 players just one shot back. The best opening round in Verizon Heritage history was 62, set by Love in 2002 and Peter Lonard in 2005.
Love III is making his 23rd consecutive start at the Verizon Heritage. In addition to his wins in 1987, 1991, 1992, 1998 and 2003, he has six additional top-10 finishes for a tournament-record 11 such finishes. His opening-round scoring average at the par-71 Harbour Town Golf Links is 69.57.
Love III has now held at least a share of the first-round lead 20 times during his career on the PGA TOUR, with Thursday representing the fourth time at the Verizon Heritage. He has carried the 18-hole lead on to victory four times, including twice in Hilton Head (1991, 1992).
The first-round leader/co-leader has gone on to win four of 16 events on the PGA TOUR this season, including three out of the last four weeks: Masters Tournament (Trevor Immelman), Shell Houston Open (Johnson Wagner) and the WGC-CA Championship (Geoff Ogilvy).
Of the 37 players in the field who also played in last week’s Masters Tournament, co-leader Justin Leonard (66) got off to the best start on Thursday. Leonard finished T20 in Augusta.
John Rollins fired a 4-under 67 to sit just one shot behind the leaders. It represents his first-ever sub-70 round at Harbour Town. He had played 12 previous rounds at the Verizon Heritage, with a 1-under 70 during the second round in 2004 his previous best effort.
Charles Howell III, a two-time winner of Hilton Head Island’s Junior Heritage (1994, 1996), opened with a 4-under 67. Howell is making just his third start at the Verizon Heritage (missed cut in 2003, T19 in 2002).
Two-time champion Stewart Cink opened with a 4-under 67 for the third time in his career (2003, 2007) at the Verizon Heritage. He is making his ninth start at Harbour Town and is seeking his fifth top-10 finish.
Camilo Villegas posted a 4-under 67 on Thursday to sit just one shot behind the leaders. He has now posted a 67 at the Verizon Heritage in three out of his last four rounds, including the middle two rounds in 2007.
First-round co-leader Justin Leonard (66) and Robert Allenby (70) are both well on their way to extending their PGA TOUR-leading consecutive cuts streak to 11 tournaments this week.
Jay Williamson (67) opened his day with five consecutive birdies on Nos. 1-5, equaling the best start to a round this season (Robert Allenby birdied the first five holes in the third round of the WGC-CA Championship). The best birdie streak on TOUR this season is six straight, held by six different players – including 2006 Verizon Heritage champion Aaron Baddeley (final round, WGC-CA Championship).
Bogey-free rounds were posted by Davis Love III (66), Nick Dougherty (67) and Daniel Chopra (69).
Defending champion Boo Weekley opened with a 2-under 69. Weekley is seeking to add his name to the list of repeat winners of the Verizon Heritage, which includes Payne Stewart (1989-90) and David Love III (1991-92).
In all, seven past champions of the Verizon Heritage are competing this week and all posted par-or-better scores on Thursday. In addition to Weekley, the others include five-time winner Davis Love III (66), 1995 champion Bob Tway (71), 1999 winner Glen Day (71), 2000 & 2004 champion Stewart Cink (67), 2005 winner Peter Lonard (68) and 2006 champion Aaron Baddeley (69).
Cameron Beckman (illness) and Y.E. Yang (illness) withdrew following the first round.
Return to Tournament Notebook archives