Canada’s Nick Taylor matched the course record at TPC Scottsdale, grabbing the first-round lead with an 11-under-par 60 at the PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open on Friday.
Taylor’s round was completed over two days as rain wrecked Thursday’s play with the Canadian having completed just six holes before the close.
He held a five-stroke lead over Americans Andrew Novak, Maverick McNealy, overnight leader Sahith Theegala and Doug Ghim before heading quickly back out to start his second round.
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Taylor started off with a nine-foot birdie on the 16th, his seventh hole and made another on 18 before reaching the turn.
But it was on the front nine where he really hit his stride with three straight birdies, another on the par-four 5th and then finished off sinking birdie putts on the 8th and 9th his final two holes.
“It felt like I was seeing the lines great. Speed was awesome. I don’t know what to say. I’ve probably never putted that well,” said the 35-year-old who is seeking his fourth win on the PGA Tour.
“I drove it great, ball in hand, and was hitting my irons nice, and I essentially made every putt I looked at. It was a day that you don’t want it to end. Luckily I’m going to play another round here, so hopefully I can keep that going. But everything has worked really well.”
In June, Taylor became the first Canadian to win the Canadian Open since 1954.
The course record of 60 was set four times previously, most recently by Phil Mickelson in 2013.
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