Huh leads after ‘kind of strange’ round
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Confidence wasn’t necessarily the fuel powering John Huh’s special round Thursday at the Wyndham Championship.
He fired a 9-under-par 61 during the earlier portion of the PGA Tour event’s opening round at Sedgefield Country Club, pouncing on the gentler morning conditions to collect a career-best round and grab the tournament lead.
All of which the 32-year-old described as somewhat bizarre and surprising.
“It’s kind of strange,” Huh said, “because I wasn’t really feeling great with my game – and shoot my career low, it’s kind of weird. Sort of mixed feelings, but I’ll take this any day. I was able to take advantage of a good break and good shots, that’s all I can say.”
Huh leads Sungjae Im, who carded a 7-under 63, by two shots and the 6-under pair of Peter Malnati and Brandon Wu by three strokes.
Huh said he capitalized on his morning tee time. He was paired with Nick Watney and Vince Whaley, their group the first to go off the first tee at 6:50 and done for the day before the steamier afternoon arrived.
Huh rode five straight birdies to deliver a 29 on the frontnine side of the course, then buried a putt of more than 38 feet for an eagle on the par-5 15th hole. He stuffed his approach on No. 17, the par-4, inside of 4 feet to sink his seventh birdie on the day.
“I knew it was going to be a quick one,” he said. “I hit a good stroke, hit my line. I got lucky that it hit the flagstick and went in the hole. It was just one of those holes where you hit your spot and hopefully it goes in.”
Huh now has recorded three rounds of 62 or lower across his PGA Tour career, and two have been supplied at Sedgefield.