Kaye, Palmer getting reacquainted with success

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DULUTH, Ga. -- You're excused if you don't exactly remember what Jonathan Kaye or Ryan Palmer look like. After all, we haven't exactly seen them much on the PGA TOUR this year.

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Ryan Palmer (left) and Jonathan Kaye have spent limited time on TOUR this season.

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First-round stats for Ryan Palmer and Jonathan Kaye

Palmer Kaye Birdies 6 6 Pars 12 12 Bogeys 0 0 Driving Accuracy 86 93 Driving Distance 302.5 289.0 Putts 28 26 GIR 83 72.2

• Scorecards: Palmer | Kaye

Kaye, playing on a Major Medical Extension this year after undergoing surgery on his right big toe, has made five starts this season, making two cuts. Palmer has started just four TOUR events, making one cut; he's also tried to stay sharp by playing a handful of Nationwide Tour events.

But when both players finished their first rounds Thursday at the AT&T Classic, they were front and center, each shooting 6-under 66 to claim a share of the clubhouse lead. They were later joined there by Jonathan Byrd and Parker McLachlin.

"Relief. Exciting. Fun," was how Palmer described his round. He could've added another word to discuss what he and Kaye did: Unexpected.

That's not to say either player is incapable of shooting low numbers. Just the opposite, in fact. Kaye is a two-time winner on TOUR, while Palmer also has a TOUR win under his belt. They know what it takes to win events. Plus, they've carded 62s a combined five times at TOUR events.

But their absence from most events this year has left them out of sight ... and out of mind. Indeed, Palmer was going out of his mind as week by week passed and he wasn't in the field.

"It is frustrating being home and watching it on TV every once in a while," he said. "I've been playing Nationwide events, which has been nice. It's kind of been a good preparation for me when I do get out there. But it has been frustrating, especially with events I love playing and not being able to play them."

One of his problems has been the flat stick. After failing to make the cut at the John Deere Classic last year, he tossed his Odyssey Rossie II -- the same model he had used for his only TOUR win at the FUNAI Classic at Walt Disney World Resort in 2004 -- into the trash can in some parking lot.

"It was a quiet, violent break-up," he said.

After going through a variety of other models, though, and never feeling comfortable with any of them, he brought back his old friend (although not the same exact club -- he figured the trash had been emptied by then).

Using his Rossie II, he toured TPC Sugarloaf in 28 putts. That wasn't the low number of the day, but it was certainly a huge confidence booster, considering a shaky round of putting might very well has resulted in him seeking out the nearest dumpster.

"It's unbelievable how huge it is for me," Palmer said of the confidence booster. "When I get that putter feeling good in my hands, it makes my iron play that much easier, my short game that much easier. (And) when I know I'm hitting my irons good, it frees up my driver, which I've struggled with a lot."

As for Kaye ... well, he's been playing Mr. Mom for most of the year, sharing the parenting duties of his two kids, Ryelie and Breeze, with wife Jennifer. He wasn't going stir-crazy -- "I'm fine being at home," he said -- but he was glad to get out and post a low number Thursday, especially considering he had to shake off so much rust.

Not only is Kaye making his first start since the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, but he had played just 14 previous TOUR rounds this year and had not broken 70 in any of them.

To make matters worse, one of his playing partners was slowed by a ruling, and his group was put on the clock for slow play between holes six and 13. So here's the setup: Not only is Kaye's right toe still not 100 percent healed, he now was having to quicken his pace on a course that may be the hardest to walk on TOUR because of its hills and the spaciousness of its layout.

"It's just hard to walk, especially when you are getting timed around, when you've got to run," Kaye said. "Running's very difficult.

"So it wasn't that enjoyable for those few holes. But other than that, it was a nice day."

Kaye said his right foot was sore enough that it would require treatment after his round, but he should be able to give it plenty of rest before tackling TPC Sugarloaf in Friday's second round. Since Kaye was in the first group out today at 6:50 a.m., he'll be in the afternoon group Friday.

And it won't be a problem recognizing either him or Palmer this time. Just look at the leaderboard.