SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Hayden Springer secured a strong position on Thursday at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship by recording a 6-under 65, which placed him in a tie for the lead alongside Justin Lower. The completion of the opening round was delayed due to darkness, leaving some players, including Patrick Rodgers, Joseph Bramlett, and Kevin Dougherty, still to finish their rounds at the Port Royal Golf Course.

Springer entered Bermuda ranked 125th in the FedEx Cup standings, just one spot above the cutoff that would allow him to maintain his full PGA Tour status for the 2025 season. With only two tournaments remaining in the season, this solid performance was crucial for him. In contrast, Lower, who ranks 95th in the same standings, enjoyed a runner-up finish in Mexico the previous week and brought a good outlook into this competition.

Springer focused on the positive aspects of his game and tried to avoid fixating on his FedEx Cup position. “It’s nice to get off to a good start,” he said. “You want to play well every day. I think I need it as much as anybody.” He recalled a previous experience at the John Deere Classic, where he began with a 59 but faltered with a 71 in the second round, settling for a tie for seventh. “There’s so much golf left, so it’s easy to get ahead of yourself. After experiencing that earlier this year, I’m just trying to play my game and not overthink it,” he added.

Lower, who was among the first to tee off, played a bogey-free round, beginning his round on the back nine. As conditions at Port Royal became windier, Springer’s performance shone through. He capitalized on a long birdie putt on the 15th, navigated the challenging oceanside par-3 16th, and made the most of favorable conditions on the par-5 17th. On the 18th, he received a favorable roll down the slope, leading to a birdie that helped secure his position atop the leaderboard.

Lower was hopeful that past patterns could benefit him. He referenced Camilo Villegas, who clinched a win in Bermuda after a solid performance in Mexico last year. “It’s definitely crossed my mind,” Lower acknowledged, though he remained grounded, stating that much could change with 54 holes left to play.

A group of players tied at 67 included Kevin Kisner, who faced challenges this year while attempting to regain his form and also contributed to NBC’s golf broadcast team. Jhonattan Vegas matched that score, showcasing a roller coaster round filled with seven birdies and four bogeys. He admitted, “It was a little bit of a roller coaster for sure,” as he managed only one par in his opening 12 holes before stabilizing his game.

In the large group at 68 was Lucas Glover, the only player ranked in the top 50 globally participating in this tournament. As the event continues, 21 players will finish their first rounds on Friday morning, quickly transitioning into the next round of play.