Cadillac Championship: day 1 report

J.B. Holmes of the USA produced a scintillating opening round of 62 to build a four shot lead over Ryan Moore after one round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

J.B. Holmes of the USA produced a scintillating opening round of 62 to build a four shot lead over Ryan Moore after one round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

The 2008 Ryder Cup star fired two birdies on his opening holes then followed with an eagle at the 12th to reach four-under-par. He made six further birdies and didn’t drop a shot, as he reached 10-under-par.

"I hit a lot of good shots today, and pretty much on every hole I put the ball below the hole where I had a chance to make a putt," said Holmes.

Ryan Moore set the early pace in Doral and he stayed level with his countryman for much of the round on eight-under-par. But Moore began to struggle on the run for home as Holmes continued to press on. Moore left himself a series of testing par saves then finally buckled on the treacherous 18th, driving into the water and racking up a double-bogey six. He carded a 66 to finish the day alone in second.

Frenchman Alexander Levy was delighted with an opening round of 68 that put him in a tie for third with Americans Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler.

"It was a very good round," said Levy. "In very tough conditions I played really good golf. I hit some good shots in good positions; that was the key today."

Jamie Donaldson is the leading British player after carding an opening round of 70. World Number 1 Rory McIlroy fought back from a poor front nine of 40 to come home in 33 and sign for a one-over-par 73.

WGC – Cadillac Championship Blue Monster, Trump National Doral, Florida Mar 5-8, purse: $9,500,000, par: 72

1    J.B. Holmes (USA)        62 2    Ryan Moore (USA)        66 T3    Alexander Levy (Fra)        68 T3    Dustin Johnson (USA)        68 T3    Rickie Fowler (USA)        68 T6    Henrik Stenson (Swe)        69 T6    Brooks Koepka (USA)        69 T8    Gary Woodland (USA)        70 T8    Charley Hoffman (USA)        70 T8    Jamie Donaldson (Wal)        70 T8    Jim Furyk (USA)            70 T8    Adam Scott (Aus)            70

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage