Alone in third place, two strokes behind leader Fowler, was another big name, first-day co-leader Sergio Garcia, who shot a 1-under 69 for a two-day total of 134.
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Sergio Garcia of Spain hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Thursday.
Fowler and fellow American William McGirt opened with 66s while Northern Irish world No. 3 Rory McIlroy carded a roller-coaster 72 that included five birdies and a double-bogey at the 14th where he ended up in three bunkers.
Honda represented a welcome opportunity for Fowler, who lost to Hideki Matsuyama in a playoff at the Waste Management Phoenix Open last month.
“I was just happy to shoot under par out there, it’s so tough”.
Playing alongside McIlroy, defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland rebounded from his opening 73 with a gritty two-under par 68 that had him heading into the weekend on one-over 141. Garcia had to play a 40-yard hook from the rough left of the 10th fairway to just short of the green for a simple par.
“You’ll see guys have a bunch of birdies, but they are going to have a bogey or two”.
He popped out the fourth shot and raised his index finger when it dropped for par.
America’s Phil Mickelson is one of nine players on one under par, a group that includes England’s Paul Casey and Greg Owen. Fowler is the only player in the history of the event at PGA National to play the first two rounds without a bogey.
“It was nice that we were able to take advantage of that, continue to move forward and make some good putts coming in”. “Obviously, I played well there and played well down the stretch”.
Adam Scott also played bogey-free in wind that was slightly calmer and in warmer weather.
Fowler set the course record at The Medalist with a 66 (he broke his own record), and the next day went up to The Floridian and shot 60 to break the course record that had been held by Justin Thomas. “I hit the ball in the center of the clubface, which on a windy day like today, that’s what you need to do in order to control your ball”, Thompson said.
The Spaniard had some trouble on the sixth hole, however, carding a bogey after hitting a barefoot recovery shot from the water – but not before checking for any alligators approaching behind him. After missing out in a playoff in 2014, he missed the cut previous year.
“It’s only the first round”, Garcia said.
“It’s amusing because the last six or seven times Rickie and I played together either he holed out or I did”.
“Making two there was already a good thing, but a one would have been unbelievable”.
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“I’m excited to feel like I’m playing a little bit better, ” Garcia said. But after a second consecutive two-over 72 it must be suspected that one or two McIlroy demons are out there on that PGA National course.
