Gonzalez gets great start to year; Ryder Cup players get back to normal

Andres Gonzales holds up his ball after making a birdie putt on the 18th green of the Silverado Resort North Course during the first round of the Frys.com PGA Tour golf tournament Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, in Napa, Calif. Gonzales shot a 6-under-par 66. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (The Associated Press)

Hunter Mahan, left, follows his drive from the first tee of the Silverado Resort North Course as playing partner Jimmy Walker, right, looks on during the first round of the Frys.com PGA Tour golf tournament Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, in Napa, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (The Associated Press)

NAPA, Calif. – Andres Gonzales is back on the PGA Tour and took the first of many steps toward his goal. He wants to stay there this time.

Gonzales birdies his last two holes Thursday at Silverado Resort for a 6-under 66 and a two-shot lead among the early starters in the season-opening Frys.com Open. Silverado has not hosted a PGA Tour event since 1980.

Gonzalez finished 11th on the Web.com Tour last year to earn his card for a third time. He has yet to finish among the top 125 to keep it.

The new season felt like an old one to a trio of Ryder Cup players. Hunter Mahan (70), Matt Kuchar (71) and Jimmy Walker (75) played in the same group just 10 days after the Ryder Cup.