Patrick Cantlay looked almost as good Thursday at Pebble Beach as he did in the last round he played, 18 days ago.
Jordan Spieth also showed a quality similar to that exhibited in his last tournament.
Cantlay had signed a 61 card in the California desert, before taking a two-week break. He opened his Pebble Beach run on Thursday with seven birdies over eight holes.
He closed with two consecutive birdies for a round of 62, 10 under par. That tied the course record, equaled 24 years ago by David Duval, and gave Cantlay a two-shot lead at the top.
“I feel like I’m in a good rhythm now,” said the Californian.
Henrik Norlander and Akshay Bhatia were in second place, each with 64 hits. Bhatia, 19, hit all 18 small greens at Pebble Beach.
The last golfer to do it was Ryan Palmer in 2008.
Spieth kept getting close to the best golf he has ever exhibited. Last week he tied for fourth at the Phoenix Open, his best position since May 2019 in the PGA Championship.
This time, he hit an eagle at 10 and finished with three consecutive birdies to sign a score of 65.
It helped to be at Pebble Beach, a field where the course is usually easier in dry conditions and not very windy. Only one of the top 10 on the day played in the Spyglass – Will Gordon, who posted a 66.
Spyglass is considered to be more difficult by a couple of hits.
“Today you had to step on the accelerator and take advantage,” said Spieth, whose 65 allowed him to place fourth with Nate Lahley. “Three beat me today. I will have to keep accelerating ”.
There was a forecast of rain for tonight. Conditions are likely to prevail through Friday.
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