|
NAPLES, Fla. - The winning score in The Shark Shootout usually hovers around 30-under-par, which means bogeys are extremely costly.
John Huston and Jeff Maggert missed a 3-foot par putt on the brutal par-4 third but raced back with seven birdies and an eagle to grab the early lead in Naples.
The former Presidents Cup teammates opened with an 8-under 64 in the alternate-shot format and have a two-shot cushion as the first round winds down.
"We made those 10, 15-foot putts today when we needed to," Maggert said. "In alternate shot it's key not to leave your partner in a position to get up and down from tough places. I think we only missed one green today."
Lee Janzen and Rocco Mediate and John Cook and Mark O'Meara finished the first round at 7 under and share second place.
The pair raced out in the first group Friday morning alongside Scott Hoch and Jerry Kelly. After choosing Huston's drive on the 573-yard par-5, Maggert launched a 3-wood in front of the green. Huston left his chip 20 feet from the cup and Maggert made the birdie putt.
The bogey on three was a minor setback, as Huston and Maggert combined to go 4 under on a three-hole stretch from Nos. 5-7.
The fifth is a 223-yard par-3 that played as one of the most difficult holes a year ago. Maggert hit a 6-iron to eight feet and Huston made the birdie putt.
On No. 6, Huston's drive bounded off the cart path and tumbled an extra 30-40 yards down the fairway. With the added distance, the arrow-straight Maggert was able to reach the putting surface.
After Huston made the eagle putt on six, the pair managed another birdie on the short par-4 seventh.
"I thought we'd match up well," Maggert said. "John's from Florida and he's comfortable with these conditions. It worked out well today."
Of Huston's six PGA Tour victories, five were in the state of Florida and the other was the 1998 United Airlines Hawaiian Open. All were on bermuda greens, similar to those the field will see at the Norman designed Tiburón Golf Club.
"We like to do our own thing out there, and we don't try to over-coach each other this year," Huston said. "It's so important in this tournament to get off to a good start."
"If you're confident and you're putting well, it's good to do your own thing," Maggert added. "I like our chances. We're both putting well and that lets us fire at more pins."
Janzen and Mediate started with a couple pars then threw together a string of birdies and closed with a 65.
"We putted from the fringe today a couple times but that's about it," Janzen said. "We really only missed one green. We just have to make some more birdies tomorrow then go for everything Sunday.
That duo has a near two-decade relationship, so they have more frequent conversation inside the ropes.
Norman and his playing partner Fred Couples opened with a five-birdie, one-bogey 68. They dropped a shot at the par-5 14th and managed birdies on four, six, seven, 10 and 17.
| 
