The PGA TOUR returned to Utah for the first time in 61 years on Thursday, and Adam Svensson took a two-shot lead in the Black Desert Championship after making a 35-foot eagle putt that he believed he had missed and closing with a birdie from the bunker for a career-best 11-under 60.
About 30 miles from Zion National Park, Black Desert Resort made its premiere on a stunning day with a Tom Weiskopf design that sliced through an old field of black lava and was encircled by red rock mountains.
Under perfect scoring circumstances, Svensson and numerous others easily completed the course.
Henrik Norlander shot his career-low 62, hitting all 18 greens and all 14 fairways. Matt McCarty, a graduate of the Korn Ferry Tour, joined him when he made an eagle on the reachable par-4 6th.
In the afternoon, Svensson made 7 birdies on 10 holes before finishing with a flourish.
Reachable par 4s are a hallmark of the late Weiskopf’s golf course designs, and the Canadian decided to lay up on the 5th hole, making an 8-footer. Then, on the 7th par-5, he made a 35-foot eagle to take the lead.
“Instead of heading left as I had anticipated, it went right and entered. Sometimes you have to be a little bit lucky. However, I performed admirably overall.” Svensson said.
He made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 9th par-5 to get up-and-down from a bunker after saving par from 8 feet on the 8th par-3.
It’s simply one of those rounds where everything falls into place.
A player shot 60 during the FedExCup Fall segment of the PGA TOUR for the second consecutive week. During the Sanderson Farms Championship, David Skinns missed a 10-foot putt for a chance at 59.
“Really, I didn’t even consider it.” he said.
In southeastern Utah, the first round was unable to conclude before nightfall. Jay Don Blake, a 65-year-old Utah native and former PGA TOUR winner who was granted an exemption to compete in his 500th TOUR event, was one of the players who failed to finish.
The resort was merely an old lava field , Blake lived close to the field while growing up, roughly a half mile distant. After 15 holes, his score was 3 over par.
It was all Norlander could have hoped for. He recorded his best round on the PGA TOUR, hitting every green and all 14 fairways.
“Every course on this tour should be fine for everyone when they play well, in my opinion, and vice versa. This place is great. It’s an enjoyable course with lots of opportunities, but in order to play effectively, you must hit accurate shots because the greens are a little harsh and you must strike the right spots.” Norlander said.
After winning 3 times on the Korn Ferry Tour to open the year, McCarty was immediately promoted to the PGA TOUR. This is his 2nd tournament, and he didn’t start until the FedExCup Fall.
Ben Kohles had a hole-in-one on the 17th hole, which was playing 130 yards with a front pin and a backstop, while Kevin Streelman had a 64. An ace was within inches of several other players.
Stephen Jaeger, winner of the Texas Children’s Houston Open, and Harry Hall, winner of the ISCO Championship in Kentucky, were among the other players at 65 from the early side of the draw. Because it took place the same week as the Genesis Scottish Open, Hall’s victory did not qualify him for the Masters.
A Masters invitation is included with the Black Desert Championship. In order to maintain a full PGA TOUR card for 2025, finishing in the top 125 is the main goal at this time of year.
The 37-year-old Swede may have a big week because he came to Utah at No. 131.
“If I say I didn’t consider it, I would be lying. However, I made a concerted effort throughout the year to improve my ability to hit one shot at a time. I feel like I’m becoming better at it, and I need to keep improving, even though I know it’s dull.” Norlander said.
