US PGA Tour:Australian Nick O'Hern covered the last nine holes in a blistering seven-under-par 28 to charge one shot clear in the first round of the Arizona Open in Scottsdale.
Best known for twice beating Tiger Woods at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, left-hander O'Hern reeled off eight birdies and a lone bogey after the turn to card a sizzling seven-under 63.
With his approach play and putting in red-hot form, he made the most of ideal scoring conditions at Grayhawk Golf Club to end a sunny day in the Arizona desert in control of the tournament.
"Nothing was really happening," O'Hern told reporters. "I was hitting the ball pretty good but just not making anything.
"Then I just got on a roll. I birdied 10 and 11 with short birdie putts, holed a 60-footer on 12 and things just kind of went from there."
Heath Slocum and Bob Heintz opened with 64s on the Raptor Course while Rory Sabbatini, Greg Owen, DA Points and Ricky Fowler returned 65s.
Mike Weir, the 2007 champion, and Justin Leonard were among a large group on 66 but O'Hern's barn-storming finish was the highlight of the day.
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