Steven Alker of New Zealand, Paul Goydos and Justin Leonard are tied atop the leaderboard after one round of the PURE Insurance Championship on Friday in Pebble Beach, Calif.
The unique event has 80 PGA Tour Champions pros play one round at Pebble Beach Golf Links and one round at Spyglass Hill Golf Course before the low 50 and ties advance to Sunday’s round at Pebble Beach.
Alker shot 7-under 65 at Spyglass Hill, historically considered the more difficult of the two courses, while Goydos and Leonard carded their 65s at Pebble Beach.
They hold a one-shot edge over Tom Pernice Jr. (66 at Pebble Beach) and Englishman Paul Broadhurst (66 at Spyglass Hill).
Alker, the 2022 Charles Schwab Cup winner, is in the hunt for his first win on tour since January after carding eight birdies and one bogey Friday.
“Really nice, especially around Spy; it’s probably the trickier of the two,” Alker said. “Just made some nice putts early and then just kind of keeping the momentum going. Had a blast out there, I think that was the big thing.”
Goydos started on the back nine at Pebble Beach and made his run starting at the 16th. After two birdies and a par, he made the turn in style by holing out for eagle at the par-4 first. That was followed by three more birdies in the next four holes.
“It happened so quickly, I think I was 7 under for eight holes or 7 under for whatever it was and all of a sudden I’m 7 under par,” Goydos said. “Then I bogeyed 7, of course. Then came back and birdied 8. … Just a good day. I drove it really good, I hit my irons really good and I made putts.”
Leonard had a strong performance at this event last year before losing to Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee in a playoff. Leonard rolled in five birdies on his back nine Friday, including four birdies over the last five holes, to join the group at 7 under.
“I was always a little hesitant to come out here and putt on the soft greens, but when they’re good like this, it makes this place different in my eye,” Leonard said of Pebble Beach. “I think I’m at a point in my life and in my career where it’s like I’m just enjoying where I am. This is a pretty easy place to do that.”
Vijay Singh of Fiji shot 5-under 67 at Pebble Beach, while Glen Day and South Korea’s Charlie Wi posted 67s at Spyglass Hill.
Jaidee is in a large tie for ninth at 4 under after opening with a 68 at Pebble Beach.
