Golf:American David Toms rebounded from his play-off defeat at last week's Players Championship in sizzling style as he charged into a share of the lead at the Colonial Invitational on the PGA Tour.
Four days after missing a par putt from inside four feet to be beaten by South Korean KJ Choi at the first extra hole, Toms fired a flawless eight-under-par 62 in the opening round at Colonial Country Club.
Making the most of ideal scoring conditions on soft and receptive greens, the 44-year-old needed only 24 putts before ending the round level with compatriot Chez Reavie, who also delivered a bogey-free display.
Compatriot Rickie Fowler briefly got to nine under before double-bogeying his final hole, the par-four ninth, for an opening 63.
Toms was delighted with his start at Colonial after coming agonisingly close to ending a five-year title drought on the PGA Tour at the TPC Sawgrass on Sunday.
"It was one of those days today where the hole just looked big and I putted extremely well," said the 12-time PGA Tour winner after compiling loops of four-under 31.
"I needed to get off to a good start ... not only to help me get past last week, but also in a tournament that I like a lot here at Colonial. I know that I can play well here."
Asked to compare his confidence level this year with his multiple-win seasons earlier in his career, Toms replied: "Fairly high, but at the same time I still need to put four rounds together.
"I had times back in the early 2000's where I won by a bunch. I played with the lead a lot of times, was able to maintain it and increase that.
"Until I'm able to do that again, I will still have that doubt," said Toms, whose last PGA Tour victory came at the 2006 Sony Open. "But I do feel good about my game. If I continue to keep the putter hot, maybe I will have a good stretch here."
US Ryder Cup player Fowler (22) is still seeking his first PGA Tour title and hit top form after the turn and was one ahead of the field before he found water with his approach at the ninth.
He ended up double-bogeying the hole for a homeward nine of six-under 29 to lie one stroke off the early pace.
"It's a sorry way to finish the round, but I hit it really well and putted well," Fowler said after carding eight birdies, a bogey, a double-bogey and an eagle at the first where he sank a 21-footer. "A 29 with a double is not too bad."
Nine under for the day playing his final hole, Fowler found left rough off the tee and then mis-hit his second shot.
"I had 125 (yards) to the hole," he said. "I was trying to hit it past the hole to give myself a look at birdie.
"I hit it a little bit left, pin-high but got a little bit of a tough kick to it, left it in the water and made double."
Stewart Cink, the 2009 British Open champion, opened with a 64 to end the day level with fellow American Brian Gay, Australian Nathan Green, South Korean Charlie Wi and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge.
American Zach Johnson, who won last year's Colonial title by three shots, carded a 68 while Australian Adam Scott, in pursuit of the so-called 'Texas Grand Slam', returned a 66.
Scott is bidding to become the first player to complete a career sweep of victories in the four PGA Tour events held in Texas, having already won the Houston Open (2007), Byron Nelson Championship (2008) and Texas Open (2010).
Collated first round scores in the the US PGA Tour Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, Colonial CC, Fort Worth, Texas, US
(US unless stated, par 70):
62David Toms, Chez Reavie
63Rickie Fowler
64Charlie Wi (Kor), Brendon De Jonge, Nathan Green (Aus), Brian Gay, Stewart Cink
65Rodney Pampling (Aus), John Senden (Aus), Mark Wilson
66Kent Jones, Spencer Levin, Adam Scott (Aus), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Steve Marino, Marc Leishman (Aus), Boo Weekley, Henrik Stenson (Swe), Tommy Gainey
67Chris Kirk, Jeff Overton, Steven Bowditch (Aus), Kevin Chappell, John Mallinger, Hunter Mahan, Anthony Kim, Bill Haas, Jim Furyk, Tim Petrovic, D.J. Trahan
68Rory Sabbatini (Rsa), Zach Johnson, Jason Dufner, Cameron Beckman, David Hearn (Can), Bo Van Pelt, Josh Teater
69Michael Bradley, Ryan Palmer, Robert Karlsson (Swe), Dean Wilson, Martin Laird (Sco), Kris Blanks, Tim Herron, Chris DiMarco, Steve Flesch, Mark Brooks, Tom Lehman, William McGirt, Alex Cejka (Ger), Kevin Na, Kenny Perry, Brendan Steele, Kevin Stadler, John Rollins, Arjun Atwal (Ind), Brandt Snedeker
70Bill Lunde, Matt Bettencourt, David Frost (Rsa), Matthew Jones (Aus), John Daly, Vijay Singh (Fij), David Mathis, Brandt Jobe, Hunter Haas, Keith Clearwater, Brian Davis (Eng), Kyle Stanley, Davis Love III, Joe Ogilvie, Michael Connell, Paul Goydos, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe)
71Zack Miller, Billy Mayfair, Tag Ridings, David Duval, Chad Campbell, Sean O'Hair, Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Stephen Ames (Can), Stuart Appleby (Aus), Pat Perez, Bobby Gates, Lucas Glover, Greg Chalmers (Aus), Matt Kuchar, Derek Lamely, Jason Day (Aus), Olin Browne, Rocco Mediate
72Colt Knost, Heath Slocum, Blake Adams, Roland Thatcher, Mike Weir (Can), Jimmy Walker, Bryce Molder, Daniel Summerhays, Nick Taylor (Can), Jerry Kelly, Michael Sim (Aus), Angel Cabrera (Arg), Kevin Streelman, Ricky Barnes, J J Henry, Andres Romero (Arg), Cameron Tringale
73George McNeill, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Vaughn Taylor, Marc Turnesa, Nick O'Hern (Aus), Jason Bohn
74Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis, Alex Prugh
75Ben Crane, Corey Pavin
76Jarrod Lyle (Aus), Scott Stallings, Trevor Immelman (Rsa), John Merrick
77Fulton Allem (Rsa)
