Munoz grabs Zozo lead, champ Tiger soars to 76
Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz endured a roller-coaster round on his way to an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to lead the Zozo Championship while defending champion Tiger Woods struggled to a woeful 76.
The 27-year-old star, had two eagles, eight birdies, five pars, two bogeys and a double bogey on his trip to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round at Sherwood Country Club.
“I’ve become better with managing crazy ups and downs,” said Munoz, whose lone PGA Tour victory came last year at Mississippi.
“I just get out of the way. At first I was like what should I do? Should I be more calm? Should I attack more?
“I just stopped trying to play anything and just keep playing golf. It’s just one of those days. It happens.”
Woods, a 15-time major winner who defends the Masters title next month, won last year in Japan before the event was moved to suburban Los Angeles due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He suffered his worst-ever score at Sherwood by two shots from 45 rounds on a course that once hosted his charity event.
Woods, who declined to speak with the media after his round, shared 75th of 77 players in the no-cut event where he hoped to win an unprecedented 83rd career PGA title.
Instead, Woods matched his worst PGA Tour showing on par-five holes in any round, going three-over with a birdie, two bogeys and a double bogey despite an 87-foot birdie putt at the parfour 14th.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy snapped a club in frustration on his way to a disappointing 73 — with seven birdies, four bogeys and two double bogeys including one at 18 — over a course that surrendered low scores and birdies in binges to many players.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton and American Justin Thomas shared second on 65.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES (par-72, USA unless noted)
64 — Sebastian Munoz (COL)
65 — Tyrrell Hatton (ENG), Justin Thomas
66 — Brian Harman, Lanto Griffin, Kevin Kisner, Harris English, Dylan Frittelli (RSA)
67 — Mackenzie Hughes (CAN), Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Smith (AUS), Justin Rose (ENG), Alex Noren (SWE), Scottie Scheffler, Abraham Ancer (MEX), Mark Hubbard