Spieth, Garcia Lead at Charles Schwab Challenge

FORT WORTH, TX – MAY 27: Jordan Spieth hits from the 9th tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 27, 2021 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)

Past Colonial champions Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia set the pace with matching 7-under 63s in the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Both players had bogey-free rounds on a windy and muggy day in Fort Worth.

“It’s hard to go any lower. Made some putts, got started on the first hole today, that one goes in, and that’s what I talked about before the tournament,” Spieth said. “If I could get a couple to go in early in the first round and the confidence and the work I’ve been doing on my stroke the last few days, which is a somewhat significant change in a stroke feel, I thought that would exude just a little bit of confidence into the rest of the round on greens where I’ve been very successful on before.”

FORT WORTH, TX – MAY 27: Sergio Garcia hits from the 9th tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 27, 2021 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)

Garcia had one fewer birdie than Spieth, but equaled him with the low sore of the day by virtue of an eagle on No. 11.

“Great round. I’m not going to lie; conditions weren’t easy. Obviously because of the rain, the course wasn’t too firm, even though it firmed up nicely between yesterday and today,” Garcia said. “But yeah, it was quite breezy. It was gusty, so it wasn’t easy to pull some of the clubs. There were some tough holes out there, but I was able to hit really good shots on those holes, and a couple up-and-downs when I needed them, so very happy with the way it went.”

 

Spieth went low playing alongside Phil Mickelson, four days removed from winning the PGA Championship. Mickelson, a two-time Colonial winner, shot 3-over to sit 10 shots behind Spieth, but he was able to keep things in perspective following his round.

FORT WORTH, TX – MAY 27: Phil Mickelson hits from the 9th tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 27, 2021 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)

“Yeah, I didn’t play well. I shot 3-over,” Mickelson said. “But I won the PGA, so…”

Patrick Reed, 2019 Colonial champion Justin Rose and defending champion Daniel Berger are in a group tied at 2-under.

2020 PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau and 2017 Colonial champion Kevin Kisner are in a group tied at 1-under.

The Players Championship winner Justin Thomas, playing in his second consecutive Charles Schwab Challenge, fired a 2-over 72.

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