Canadians Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin finished the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open in the lead at -5, just ahead of Xander Schauffele, while the first day could not be completed. Jon Rahm is in ambush and Rory McIlroy much further. The boiling grandstand of hole number 16 is already full for the next few days…
The first round of the Waste Management Open in the Arizona desert could not be completed…because of the cold! The morning frost delayed the first starts of this second $20 million tournament of the season, while the wind complicated the debates. In these winter playing conditions, the Canadians logically distinguished themselves by placing Nick Taylor et Adam Hadwin leading at -5. Like the much milder weather at the end of the day, Taylor played hot and cold with in particular an eagle on 3 and a double-bogey on 6 to complete his trip over par, before finishing by six birdies on his return leg, including the famous par 3 of hole number 16. His compatriot Adam Hadwin was also able to finish with a card of 66, just ahead of the American Xander Schauffele.
Ridiculous touch ????@XSchauffele goes around the tree and onto the green. pic.twitter.com/Ffz5yIQDp1
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 9, 2023
Jon Rahm in the top 10
Painfully under the par all day, Jon Rahm finished with an eagle at 13 to enter the top 10 before returning Friday morning to finish his first lap. Author of one of the shots of the day in the den of hole number 16, Tony Finau snatch a place in the top 20, just under par (-1), alongside Scottie Scheffler et Viktor Hovland.
The first roar of the day @WMPhoenixOpen.@TonyFinauGolf goes right at it on No. 16. pic.twitter.com/SndDWdJVzD
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 9, 2023
Rory McIlroy barely in the top 100
There are beautiful people at +2 with Rory McIlroy along with Francesco Molinari, Collin Morikawa et Patrick Cantlay (82nd). Only the Italian has not finished his day and can still improve this timid entry into the running. The atmosphere will be assured for the next few days since all tickets have been sold for Friday and Saturday, while Sunday should also be sold out a few hours before the Superbowl!
???? Short-sided
⛱️ Bunker to cover
????️ Thousands of fans watching@Collin_Morikawa handles the pressure at No. 16 ???? pic.twitter.com/IBWyZKDCmu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 9, 2023
The most beautiful shots of hole number 16 in video
Classification
(Photo Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP)
