Hayden Springer, Justin Lower tied atop Bermuda Championship

SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Hayden Springer birdied three of his final 4 holes Thursday for a 6-under 65, giving him a share of the lead with Justin Lower earlier than darkness stored the opening spherical of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship from being accomplished.

Springer wanted a begin like this with solely two tournaments left within the PGA Tour season. He got here to Bermuda at No. 125 within the FedEx Cup, the cutoff for protecting full standing for 2025.

Decrease is secure at No. 95 and introduced good kind to the island in the course of the Atlantic, coming off a runner-up end in Mexico final week.

They have been one shot forward of Patrick Rodgers, Joseph Bramlett and Kevin Dougherty, who nonetheless had the 18th gap at Port Royal to play to finish his spherical.

Springer is doing his finest not to consider his place within the FedEx Cup standings.

“It is good to get off to a superb begin. I imply, that is the place you need to be, you need to play nicely each day,” he stated. “I believe I would like it as a lot as anyone, so it is undoubtedly good to do this and hopefully it should proceed all week.”

Springer has expertise with a quick begin. He posted considered one of two sub-60s rounds on the PGA Tour this 12 months when he opened with a 59 on the John Deere Traditional in July. He adopted with a 71 and wound up in a tie for seventh.

“There’s a lot golf left, so it is simple to sort of get forward of your self,” Springer stated. “That is actually the principle factor I sort of realized at John Deere. I received a little bit rattled on my again 9 on Friday. I began to sort of give it some thought and the place I used to be positioned. I believe that the most important factor is simply do not suppose an excessive amount of about it and play golf.”

Decrease was within the first group earlier than the standard robust wind at Port Royal gained some drive. He began on the again 9 and performed bogey-free.

Springer did nicely to catch him. He holed an extended birdie putt on the fifteenth that he referred to as a bonus, made it by the scary par-3 sixteenth alongside the ocean, took benefit of getting the wind at his again on the par-5 seventeenth after which received an important roll off the slope on the 18th, the ball setting about 6 ft away for a last birdie.

Decrease can solely hope some current historical past is on his aspect. A 12 months in the past, Camilo Villegas completed second in Mexico, after which adopted with a win in Bermuda.

“Crossed my thoughts, for positive,” Decrease stated. “However we nonetheless have 54 holes to go. We have now very unpredictable climate aside from tomorrow. Saturday from what I’ve seen appears fairly depressing. However yeah, I am feeling superb after final week and a little bit decided after developing a shot brief. Simply doing what I can.”

The group at 67 included Kevin Kisner, enduring a tough 12 months as he tries to type out his recreation whereas spending a while within the NBC broadcast sales space. Additionally at 67 was Jhonattan Vegas, considered one of solely three gamers within the discipline who have already got locked up a spot within the Masters.

Vegas was all over, making just one par in his opening 12 holes — seven birdies and 4 bogeys on the opposite holes — till settling down.

“It was a little bit little bit of a curler coaster for positive,” Vegas stated.

Lucas Glover, at No. 48 the one participant from the highest 50 on the earth in Bermuda, was within the massive group at 68.

Twenty-one gamers will conclude their first rounds Friday morning earlier than a fast turnaround for the following spherical.