- 'I'm really happy with the way I started today. I was a bit unsure of how I was going to go today.'
India's Anirban Lahiri got off to a flying start on his tournament-debut, firing eight birdies in a blemish-free opening round to grab a share of the lead at the PGA Tour's Career Builder Challenge In Partnership With The Clinton Foundation in La Quinta, California.
The 28-year-old, who is playing his rookie season after coming through the Web.com Tour Finals, carded an eight-under 64 to share the lead with Jason Dufner, Jerry Kelly and Jeff Overton.
Two others, Colt Knost and Jamie Lovemark were at 65 and another 11 players shot 66 each.
Playing on a sunny morning with very slight wind, two-time winner on European Tour last year, Lahiri did not miss a single green on Thursday.
He got his first birdie on the second and added three more on fourth, sixth and seventh to turn in four-under. A hat-trick of birdies from 11th to 13th brought him to seven-under after which he had just one more on 17th.
"I'm really happy with the way I started today. I was a bit unsure of how I was going to go today. Obviously still feeling all the travel from coming from Asia last week. But really happy with the way I hit the ball. I don't think I missed a green all day. I felt really good out there," said the World No. 41.
"This is a good golf course. I think that I like the way this particular golf course sets up. You've got to put it in play off the tee and then you have a lot of opportunities. So, I think it's good, it's good for people to come out and watch, because you see a lot of birdies," he added.
Lahiri flew in straight from Malaysia, where he won his final singles against Shane Lowry at the EurAsia Cup.
Playing his first event on PGA Tour since the Hero World Challenge in Bahamas, Lahiri speaking of his off-season, added, "Well, I got a lot of rest, to start. I was playing three different tours last year and I was absolutely ragged by the end of the year.
"So I got some rest in (after the Hero World Challenge), did some work on the body, got some good gym time in, and spent a couple of weeks with my coach (Vijay Divecha) before I started out last week. So, yeah, I feel ready to go."
The US$ 5.8 million event is being played over three courses -- the La Quinta, PGA West's TPC Stadium Course and PGA West's Nicklaus Tournament Course.
On the other two courses, that he plays on next two days, Lahiri said, "Yes, I played the Stadium Course, I went and mapped out the Nicklaus Tournament Course. I got in on Monday afternoon, so I don't think it was a good idea for me to play 54 before I teed up. So we'll find out (about the other courses). They look pretty good. They're similar, if you put yourself in a good position, there's a few wedges and a few birdies to be made."
Among Lahiri's co-leaders, Overton had nine birdies and one bogey at the Nicklaus Tournament Course, while Kelly also had a 64 at La Quinta. Dufner shot his 64 at Nicklaus course with eight birdies and no bogeys.
Bill Haas, the defending champion carded 66 while Phil Mickelson, two-time winner at Career Builder, shot 68.
The 45-year-old Mickelson in his first start since The Presidents Cup in October, played a seven-hole stretch in 6-under during his 68. He three-putted on par-5 13th and made two late bogeys.
Winless since the 2013 British Open, this round was also Mickelson's first since splitting with swing coach Butch Harmon to work with Andrew Getson.
The 49-year-old Kelly had two eagles at La Quinta. He missed birdie putts on the final three holes, the first a 5-footer.
