Villegas to the fore in Phoenix Open

Columbian Camilo Villegas scorched TPC Scottsdale during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Villegas, who finished third behind Ian Poulter in last week’s WGC Accenture World Match Play posted a tournament-equalling nine-under-par round of 62 to take a one shot lead into the second round.

It was the Columbian’s lowest ever round in a PGA event and included three birdies on the front nine, with a further six birdies on the back nine as he took full advantage of his early start and ideal conditions.

Villegas, who twice won on the PGA Tour in 2008, is seeking his first tournament win since winning the Tour Championship that year.

United States’ Matt Every carded a 63 to lie one shot behind Villegas, while Englishman Justin Rose formed part of a five-man group including Mark Wilson, Ryuji Imada, Rickie Fowler and Pat Perez a further shot behind in a tie for third place. The quintet sits three shots off the pace, with Rose seeking his first PGA Tour victory. Rose could have been even closer to the lead if he hadn’t dropped shots on both the first and last holes.

Every, who had started at the 10th enjoyed a run of six successive birdies – the longest streak of the PGA Tour this year – from the 17th, and the round went a long way to banishing the events of the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Cancun last week where he signed for an incorrect third-round score and was subsequently disqualified.

Last week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play champion Ian Poulter endured a difficult day as he finished with a one-over-par 72. With afternoon conditions proving tricky for many players, Poulter found himself three-over at one point before clawing back to his one-over first round score which gives him a fighting chance of making the half-way cut.

Similarly, JB Holmes had also dropped to two-over par around the turn but fought back to two-under par and keep the tip alive.

Kenny Perry, the reigning champion, carded a three-under-par 68 while Phil Mickelson, making his return after skipping the WGC-Accenture Match Play to be with his family shot a similar score. Mickelson carded six birdies but tempered those with three bogeys as he continued to struggle with his putter.