PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — It was an uncomfortable day for most of the players in Thursday’s Honda Classic opening round at PGA National.
Sustained winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour with higher gusts will do that to a golfer. Wind for golfers is the equivalent of black ice for drivers on winter roads. It adds an unsettling element of uncertainty.
That’s why Thursday’s conditions left player after player walking off the golf course looking like he needed a warm brandy and a nap.
By day’s end, the leaders were Sergio Garcia and 2013 Honda Classic champion Michael Thompson, both of whom shot 5-under 65s.
Rickie Fowler and William McGirt are each one shot back at 4-under after shooting 66s. McGirt finished birdie-birdie-birdie around the infamous “Bear Trap,’’ a daunting stretch of holes that are supposed to break players, not buoy them.
George McNeill, David Lingmerth and Shane Lowry, who had an even better finish than McGirt, are all two shots back at 3-under.
“It is a tough golf course, and with these wind conditions it doesn’t make it any easier,’’ Garcia said.
“When the wind starts blowing, it’s anyone’s ballgame,’’ Thompson said. “I went out with no expectations. Obviously, I like this golf course, so I just went out and tried to play golf. I think I did that pretty good.’’
So did Lowry, who went 3-under on 17 and 18, his final two holes, carding a birdie on the par-3 17th and an eagle on the par-5 18th.
“I hit a great drive down there and had 215 [yards] to the front, 243 to the flag and wind howling out of the left,’’ Lowry said. “It was a really horrible shot. I was just trying to get it in the bunker left or just past the bunker and try to make four. It was straight at the flag and just stayed there and it was nice.’’
Lowry said he told his caddie he “didn’t fancy’’ trying to make the second shot to the green.
“But like all day, there’s so many tough shots, you have to go ahead and commit to it,’’ he said. “It was a nice way to finish.’’
A number of players, including Phil Mickelson, who shot 69, felt good about their scores even though they were modest numbers.
“It was very, very challenging,’’ said Mickelson, who started on No. 10 and was 3-under at the turn. “The wind was strong and it was difficult to get the right club selection.’’
Sean O’Hair shot 69 and was delighted to be under par considering the conditions.
“This course is already tough as it is with the length and the rough being the way it is, but then you’re adding 30 miles per hour of wind,’’ he said.
Said Justin Thomas, who shot 69: “It’s just draining, because you don’t get many easy pars. It’s a grind.’’
Lingmerth, who played in the morning and carded only one bogey (on No. 14), said, “The tough holes got tougher.’’
Jason Dufner, who’s 2-under, captured the essence of what everyone was thinking when he said, “Anything around par or under par is a great score.’’
You don’t often hear Tour pros uttering those words. But that’s what a good dose of unpredictable wind does to the world’s best players.
“All day it was mentally very tough and draining,’’ Lowry said. “I’ll definitely sleep tonight.’’
Among the most impressive feats of the day was Sam Saunders, best known for being Arnold Palmer’s grandson, shooting a 1-under 69 despite a triple-bogey 7 on the 14th hole.
Alex Cejka had a hole-in-one on the 17th hole. “It’s kind of a scary hole,’’ Cejka said. “It’s a crazy feeling — especially in front of the crowds here.’’
Defending champion Padraig Harrington shot a 3-over 73. His round was marred by a double-bogey on No. 10 when his tee shot got stuck in a palm tree.
Rory McIlroy shot a 2-over 72. McIlroy never has won a tournament at which he began with an opening round over par.