Las Vegas, NV – Ryan Moore fired a course-record tying, 10- under 61 to grab a 1-shot lead after Thursday's opening round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Moore's 61 at TPC at Summerlin matched the record that U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III set in 2001 and was later matched by Tag Ridings and Hunter Haas.
"I had no idea that was the course record, so that's nice," Moore said.
Brendon de Jonge, the tour leader in birdies, carded nine more en route to a 9-under 62. He is alone in second place.
Tim Herron and John Huh shared third place at minus-eight. Justin Leonard carded a 7-under 64 and was joined in fifth place by Chris Kirk and Jonas Blixt.
Moore got going with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 11th. He followed with birdies on 12 and 13, both from inside eight feet.
The 2009 Wyndham Championship winner drove the green at the short par-4 15th and rolled in his 10-footer for eagle to jump to minus-5.
Moore stuffed his third to the par-5 16th within three feet. After kicking that in for birdie, he poured in a 21-foot birdie effort to move to minus-7 through eight holes.
At the 18th, Moore's second shot ricocheted off the stick to 36 feet. From there, he 2-putted for par.
Moore kept rolling with a 6-foot birdie putt on the first. Standing at 8-under par through 10 holes, Moore had a chance to shoot 59.
However, he settled down with three pars in a row from the second. At the par-3 fifth, Moore's tee shot stopped within four feet and he knocked that in for birdie.
Moore birdied the seventh from eight feet out, but missed the green at the par-3 eighth. He chipped to 12 feet and 2-putted for bogey. Moore erased that mistake with a 14-foot birdie putt at the ninth, his last.
"I've just been playing good, solid golf lately. Just kind of keep hitting the ball solid and giving myself opportunities. On a golf course like this, I'm probably more comfortable," stated Moore, who lives nearby and frequently practices at the TPC Summerlin.
"I've played it more this year than any other coming into it. Got off to a great start. Made bogey there on my 17th hole, No. 8 which I wasn't too happy about. It was great to bounce back with a birdie on the 9th hole."
De Jonge flew out of the gate with three straight birdies from the second. After a trio of pars, he ran off three birdies in a 4-hole span from the eighth to climb to 6-under.
The 32-year-old birdied the next two par-5, Nos. 13 and 16 to get within two of the lead. De Jonge closed with a birdie at the last to end one back.
NOTES: Defending champion Kevin Na had five birdies and a pair of bogeys in a round of 3-under 68, which left him tied for 29th...Love was among the 22 players tied with Na at minus-3...Eight of the last 10 winners of this event were first-time winners.
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