SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — After facing a challenging start to the season, Wyndham Clark took proactive measures to shift his mindset. He dove into his past notes and revisited materials to help steer his thoughts away from negativity, a strategy that proved beneficial during the Phoenix Open’s opening round. Despite a late hiccup involving a tee shot that landed in the water, Clark recovered well, managing to save par on the 17th hole and ultimately finishing the round bogey-free at 7-under 64. He concluded the day with a slender one-shot lead.
“You can’t control the score or what happens to your golf ball, but you can control your thoughts,” Clark shared. “So, it was a good reminder for me to focus on the positive; I tend to see the glass as half-full when I’m at my best.”
Clark’s performance stood out on a day featuring ideal weather, a stark contrast to the previous year’s rain-soaked conditions at TPC Scottsdale. He kicked off the round with a birdie and added four consecutive ones starting from the eighth hole. Many competitors thrived in the favorable conditions, as 24 players managed to score 68 or better before play was halted due to darkness.
Lee Hodges also showcased a strong performance, featuring two eagles on his back nine, complemented by three successive birdies starting from the first hole, which allowed him to finish with a score of 65. He found himself tied with Taylor Moore, who eagles the par-5 third hole as part of a remarkable 7-under stretch over seven holes.
Justin Thomas recorded six birdies and was among six players who achieved a score of 66. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth, competing for the second time since undergoing wrist surgery in the offseason, managed a score of 68. In contrast, top-ranked player Scottie Scheffler had a rollercoaster round, finishing with a 69 that included a spectacular hole-out from a fairway bunker on the 10th hole.
Last season, Clark finished eighth in the FedEx Cup standings, claiming the title at The Sentry but struggled in subsequent tournaments, missing the cut in La Quinta and tying for 73rd at Pebble Beach. In his opening round at the Phoenix Open, he quickly established momentum with a birdie and went on to notch four consecutive birdies starting from the par-4 eighth. He scored again at the par-5 13th before reaching tap-in range on the par-5 15th, putting him at 7 under for the day.
Clark expressed frustration when he landed his tee shot in the water at 17, a hole generally viewed as an opportunity for birdies. However, he executed an outstanding pitch shot to save par and finished the round with a straightforward par on 18. “It’s unfortunate to not have a chance at birdie, but coming away with a par was huge,” Clark noted.
Thomas, starting on the back nine, took full advantage of the calm morning conditions, proving patient despite a bogey at the par-3 12th. He racked up consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and made a crucial birdie on the par-5 third. Closing out his back nine with a 3-under 32, he secured a 15-foot birdie on the ninth. “Staying patient is key because while birdies can come easily, unnecessary risks can lead to quick bogeys,” he reflected.
Scheffler’s round featured ups and downs. After beginning with a bogey, he struggled on the par-3 third and had another bogey on the fifth. Yet, he quickly rallied, creating an uproar among fans when he sank a 104-yard shot from a fairway bunker for eagle on 10. Despite a double bogey on the par-3 12th, he recovered by birdieing the par-5 13th and making a 7-foot eagle putt on 15, finishing strong with birdies from the 17th and just missing one on the 18th.
