Kuchar kicks off 2017 campaign with a 64

 

FROM SKYSPORTS.COM

Matt Kuchar fired a faultless seven-under 64 to claim a one-shot lead over the red-hot Hideki Matsuyama on the opening day of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

As over 100,000 fans again flocked to TPC Scottsdale for the "greatest show on turf", Kuchar stole the first round headlines with a bogey-free effort on his first 2017 appearance on the US PGA Tour  following a seven-week break.
Kuchar got off to the ideal start as he birdied the first and rolled in a putt of over 30 feet for another gain at the second, and he safely parred the next eight holes before breaking the run with a birdie at the 11th.

US Masters 2017,7th April, 13:00pm

US Masters 2017 Outright

Outright Winner

Outright Winner

Jordan Spieth

8/1

Rory McIlroy

9/1

Jason Day

9/1

Dustin Johnson

11/1

Hideki Matsuyama

14/1

Adam Scott

22/1

Bubba Watson

22/1

Henrik Stenson

25/1

Justin Thomas

25/1

Justin Rose

28/1

Rickie Fowler

28/1

Phil Mickelson

33/1

Tiger Woods

33/1

Patrick Reed

40/1

Louis Oosthuizen

50/1

Branden Grace

50/1

Charl Schwartzel

50/1

Jon Rahm

50/1

Paul Casey

50/1

Brooks Koepka

66/1

Brandt Snedeker

66/1

Danny Willett

66/1

Jimmy Walker

66/1

Matt Kuchar

66/1

Sergio Garcia

66/1

Matthew Fitzpatrick

80/1

Lee Westwood

80/1

Thomas Pieters

80/1

Zach Johnson

80/1

Alex Noren

100/1

Daniel Berger

100/1

Jim Furyk

100/1

Marc Leishman

100/1

Shane Lowry

100/1

J.B Holmes

125/1

Bill Haas

125/1

Byeong-Hun An

125/1

Ian Poulter

125/1

Jason Dufner

125/1

Martin Kaymer

125/1

Rafa Cabrera Bello

125/1

Russell Knox

125/1

Tyrrell Hatton

125/1

Andy Sullivan

150/1

Billy Horschel

150/1

Bryson Dechambeau

150/1

Charley Hoffman

150/1

Chris Wood

150/1

Emiliano Grillo

150/1

Francesco Molinari

150/1

Graeme McDowell

150/1

Jamie Donaldson

150/1

Kevin Kisner

150/1

Luke Donald

150/1

Ryan Moore

150/1

Smylie Kaufman

150/1

Victor Dubuisson

150/1

Webb Simpson

150/1

Anirban Lahiri

200/1

Bernd Wiesberger

200/1

Ernie Els

200/1

Harris English

200/1

Hudson Swafford

200/1

Keegan Bradley

200/1

Kiradech Aphibarnrat

200/1

Si Woo Kim

200/1

Thorbjorn Olesen

200/1

Kevin Na

200/1

Angel Cabrera

250/1

David Lingmerth

250/1

Soren Kjeldsen

250/1

Curtis Luck

300/1

Bernhard Langer

400/1

Fred Couples

500/1

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The Ryder Cup star, who is without a win since capturing his seventh Tour title at the RBC Heritage in April 2014, then hit the par-five 13th green in two and drained the 20-foot chance for eagle, and he followed that with a birdie on 15 before coming close to chipping in for another eagle at the driveable par-four 17th.
Kuchar missed yet another birdie chance from inside 10 feet at the last, but the tap-in par capped his best round since August as he surpassed Matsuyama and Brendan Steele for the clubhouse lead.
Matsuyama also kept a bogey off his card as he opened up the defence of his title with a classy six-birdie 65, a score later matched by Steele after the American failed to build on a remarkable first half of his round.
Steele started on the 10th and covered the back nine in just 30 shots, with four birdies and a stunning eagle-two at the tough 14th where his 194-yard approach bounded into the cup
But he offset further birdies at the first and third with bogeys at the second, fourth and fifth holes before getting back to six under par with a superb 30-foot putt for birdie at the eighth.
Former BMW PGA Championship winner Byeong Hun An was among a large group of players on five under, with Rickie Fowler and Scotland's Martin Laird one stroke further adrift.                                                                
Fan favourite Phil Mickelson cruised to the turn in 32 with three birdies, but he had to scramble hard on the inward nine and reeled off nine straight pars to close on three under, while fellow Masters champions Bubba Watson (69) and Jordan Spieth (70) also broke par.
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