Pebble Beach, United States: J.B. Holmes and Justin Hicks made the most of perfect California weather to seize the lead at the $6.8 million (Dh24.97 million) Pebble Beach Pro-Am, with John Daly a surprising early contender just a stroke adrift.
The red-hot Holmes, fresh off a play-off loss to Australian Jason Day at Torrey Pines on Sunday, opened his round with an eagle at the par-four 10th hole on the par-72 Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three courses in use in the first three rounds of the US PGA Tour event.
He nabbed seven birdies and one bogey before he was done with an eight-under 64, and Hicks joined him atop the leaderboard with a bogey-free round that included six birdies and an eagle at Pebble Beach’s par-five 18th.
A string of familiar faces were lined up behind them on seven-under — Daly perhaps the biggest surprise among them.
The two-time major champion, now 48 and without a US PGA Tour win since 2004, birdied the 18th on Pebble Beach for a 65 that put him tied with Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker, Chesson Hadley, Dudley Hart and J.J. Henry.
