Print this page  |  Close Window

By John Maginnes
PGATOUR.com Contributor

Thursday was an absolutely ideal day for scoring in Las Vegas. Sunshine on a windless day allowed the players to take dead aim. D.J. Trahan was the first to post 7 under par, and before lunch Jeff Overton followed with a 65 of his own. Jeff and D.J. both played the TPC Summerlin on Thursday morning.

Rich Beem could have a bit of an advantage at TPC Summerlin Friday, says John Maginnes. (Lindquist/WireImage)

Thursday afternoon Bob May opened with a bogey but then made two eagles en route to a 9-under-par 63 to take the lead. Bob should feel right at home here at the TPC Summerlin -- after all, it is his home course.

Bob is making just his 13th start of the year. At the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Bob felt a muscle spasm in his upper back and neck. That is the same injury that sidelined him for more than two years, but he feels healthy and is ready to take advantage of feeling good with some good play.

Unlike many of the players who are battling this week in Vegas, Bob probably doesn't need to worry about the money list although he was ranked 217 coming into the week. Because he missed so much time during the season, he will likely be granted a medical exemption for most of 2008.

Perhaps the best round of the day was authored by Jason Gore. His 8-under-par 63 was the low round of the day at the TPC The Canyons. TPC Summerlin's sister course just a mile away is a little narrower and a perhaps a bit more dangerous. Scoring is typically a little worse at the TPC The Canyons, which is utilized the first two days of the event. TPC Summerlin hosts the weekend rounds exclusively.

Although opening-round scoring was good, we may not see the 21 or 22 under par that we are used to seeing at the Fry's.Com Open. The greens this year at Summerlin are faster than the pros have ever seen them before. After that opening-round 65, Overton said, "I don't know if we have putted on greens this good all year."

Prior to the 2006 event, the greens at the TPC Summerlin were resurfaced. With a year of maturity, they are quick and perfect if not a little frightening. On Friday, they could become downright treacherous.

The wind is supposed to blow 20 to 25 miles an hour throughout the day. With the open exposure of both the TPC courses, that wind will feel even stronger to the players who are out fighting through it. Combine the wind with the green speeds that are already approaching 13 on the Stimpmeter and things could get extremely interesting.

Charley Hoffman knows a bit about playing in the windy desert. His win in near-gale force winds at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic was the first of his PGA TOUR career. Like Bob May, Charley lives here in Las Vegas and is very familiar with these TPC layouts.

He too finds himself in good position after the opening round. He opened with 67 at the TPC Summerlin. When asked if he thought that he would have an advantage if the wind blew, Charley dismissed the idea. "If you are playing well and can control your ball flight, anyone can play well in the wind," he said after his round.

The PGA TOUR players know that when they land at McCarran Airport, they better be ready to go low if they are to contend. But Friday may call for more prudence than punch. If the weatherman is right, the PGA TOUR players will face a totally different day on Friday.

It is likely that the players who posted good rounds at the TPC Canyons on Thursday will have the advantage on Friday. Rich Beem, who shot 64, and Jason Gore, who shot 63, will enjoy larger fairways than their fellow competitors who will battle the wind up the street at the more demanding Canyons.

Things are predicted to be back to normal for Las Vegas over the weekend. Sunshine and moderate winds are in the forecast. But to get to the weekend, the players may have a tough fight on their hands on Friday.