LAS VEGAS -- Briny Baird shot a 10-under 62 on Thursday to
take the first-round lead in the Michelin Championship, with the
players going low on the tournament's two desert courses.
Baird played at the TPC at Summerlin, where the par is 72. The
other course being used for the first two rounds, the TPC at The
Canyons, is a par 71.
Ryan Palmer shot a 9-under 62 at The Canyons, and Charles Howell
III had a 9-under 63 at Summerlin. The players will switch courses
Friday and the final two rounds will be played at Summerlin.
Justin Leonard, Kevin Stadler, Michael Allen, Bart Bryant and
Scott Gutschewski were 8 under, with all but Leonard playing at
Summerlin.
Former UNLV star Ryan Moore had a 5-under 67 at Summerlin, while
Phil Mickelson shot a 4-under 67, and John Daly had a 3-under 68,
both at The Canyons.
Moore, the college player of the year last season, has one
second-place finish -- in the Canadian Open -- and has earned
$545,716 in eight tour events since turning pro in June. He tied
for 13th in the Masters in April as an amateur.
Baird, who has struggled some this year and missed the cut twice
in his last three tournaments, said no parts of his game have been
clicking lately.
"But I played well today. I'm not going to deny that," he
said.
At the start, he thought maybe it was going to be another bad
day.
"I hit a 3-wood into the left rough, then I hit a dead-cold
shank with my first iron of the day. I thought that wasn't a very
good omen," Baird said.
He recovered with an up-and-down par on that 10th hole, where he
began his round, and went on to shoot a 6-under 30 on that nine,
rolling in a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th. He had a 32
after the turn to complete a bogey-free round.
Talking about one bunker shot that rimmed the cup and cost him a
birdie, Baird said, "I can't complain. I had several putts that
didn't have to go in, but they did.
"I putted from off the green at No. 6, and that was one of
those that didn't have to go in, and it did."
Asked whether he preferred to play on courses that yield low
scores or layouts that are challenging, Baird said, "Either way.
Everything is relevant. My round today could as well have been a 2
under and still be a good round at the U.S. Open."
Allen, still looking for his first win since making his tour
debut in 1988, said conditions for the first round of the
tournament were ideal.
"There was no wind at all, and it obviously was a beautiful
day," he said. "These courses will give you some birdies if you
keep the ball in play."