Every ties Wyndham record
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Matt Every matched the Wyndham Championship’s first-round record with a 9-under 61 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead.
Every tied the opening-round mark set in 2010 by Arjun Atwal, who went on to win the PGA Tour’s final tournament before the postseason.
Henrik Stenson opened with a 62. Former Wyndham winner Webb Simpson was at 63 along with Cameron Smith, Vaughn Taylor, Tim Wilkinson, Harold Varner III, Brian Campbell and Sam Saunders.
Davis Love III — the 53-year-old player who has won this tournament three times, most recently in 2015 — matched Martin Flores and Rick Lamb with a 64.
For Every, a 33-yearold with two career victories on tour, this was a much-needed strong start to what he hopes is a long week.
“I played good, and have been playing good for a while,” Every said. “So it’s just nice to see it come together.”
Every arrived at par-70 Sedgefield Country Club in a tie for 183rd on the FedEx Cup points list. The top 125 qualify for The Northern Trust next week in New York.
His best finish this season was a tie for 14th at the Canadian Open, and he had a string of seven consecutive tournaments from April-June in which he either withdrew or missed the cut. Both of his victories came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in 2014 and ‘15.
“I have a high regard for my talent. Like, I know I’m as talented as anyone out here — maybe like five guys are more talented than me — so I couldn’t let myself quit,” Every said. “There were a lot of low points, though. That’s life. Just everything that I’ve been through, I’ve brought on myself. So I don’t need any sympathy or anything. It’s just the way my path has gone so far in the last couple years.”
Australia’s Travis Smyth knocked off No. 3-ranked Braden Thornberry in the morning and advanced to the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals in the afternoon with a 2-and-1 victory over No. 12 Will Zalatoris. Smyth is on an impressive run at Riviera Country Club in Los Angles with a chance to follow the path set by Curtis Luck. Smyth’s good friend and fellow longhaired Australian won the Amateur at Oakland Hills in 2016.