Max Greyserman fired an opening-round 67 to share the early lead on the PGA Tour’s Baycurrent Basic in Japan after tee instances had been introduced ahead to keep away from the potential impacts of a hurricane.
Greyserman was three below on the flip, then sank a 40-foot birdie putt on the eleventh to take the outright lead. He bogeyed the twelfth however bounced again with a 19-foot birdie on the fifteenth to complete on 4 below alongside Bud Cauley and Brian Campbell.
The American, enjoying within the first group at Yokohama Nation Membership, stated the circumstances had been troublesome however he was happy with his efforts as he makes an attempt to place final yr’s heartbreak behind him.
Within the remaining spherical of final yr’s occasion, Greyserman held the lead on the again 9 however misplaced out on the 72nd gap when Nico Echavarria hit his method shut and made birdie to win by one.
“It was a solid round. Very, very difficult conditions, and very windy,” stated Greyserman.
“I feel general I performed properly. Simply preserve doing what I am doing. Very pleased with how as we speak went. Clearly, it may have all the time been higher, however in these troublesome circumstances, I will take that any day.
“I really like enjoying in Japan. It is an ideal tradition, respectful individuals, respectful followers. Within the US, I do not normally get claps once I hit it to 30 ft, and right here I do.
“I feel like they maybe look at golf more like an art form or they’re trying to learn, especially when I’m on the range and I see people trying to imitate my swing, whereas in the US it’s more like an entertainment product.
“It is enjoyable being over right here. Good meals too, I am not going to complain about that.”
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Greyserman, 30, is aiming for his first PGA Tour win after he misplaced out to Aldrich Potgieter in a play-off on the Rocket Basic earlier this yr.
Talking about his recollections of the Baycurrent Present final yr, he stated: “We all battled really hard, we were all close.
“My greatest reminiscence is being within the lead and Nico birdieing 16 and 18, so I did not like that an excessive amount of. Felt like I used to be possibly going to win that one, however Nico received it finished that week, so possibly I can get it finished this week.”
Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard hit an opening-round 68 to be tied for fourth place, with Sweden’s Alex Noren one shot further back, while Rasmus Hojgaard carded a one-over 72 and defending champion Echavarria posted a round of 70.
US Ryder Cup duo Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa both opened with level-par 71s, but England’s Matt Wallace struggled to a three-over 74.
Watch the Baycurrent Current in Yokohama this week with coverage from Friday at 4am, live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and extra contract-free with NOW.
