Morning notes: Rd. 1, Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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AVONDALE, La. -- Charlie Wi seems to do well in the opening rounds of "Classics." Wi shot a bogey-free, 6-under 66 to be the leader after the morning wave of play at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The South Korean, who resides in California, has held or shared the first-round lead three previous times in his career.

This is the seventh consecutive tournament Wi has scored par or better in the first round.

Wi tied for fourth at the Transitions Championship for his best finish on the PGA TOUR this season. His career-best finish is a tie for second at both the 2007 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee and the 2008 Valero Texas Open.

Wi has nine international victories, all in Asia -- the most-recent in 2006 at the Maybank Malaysian Open, a co-sanctioned European/Asian Tour event.

Wi is currently 52nd in the FedExCup standings and 39th on the International Team Presidents Cup standings. It's early, but if Wi were to win, he could jump into the top 10 in the FedExCup standings.

John Merrick, who tied for sixth at the Masters two weeks ago, is among a group of five players at 5-under 67 after the morning wave was completed. Also at 5 under are Jay Williamson, Nathan Green, Parker McLachlin and Charles Warren.

There were 13 players at 4 under or better after the morning wave was completed. All but four -- Parker McLachlin, Charles Howell III, Steve Stricker and Rod Pampling -- have yet to win on TOUR.

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans has produced four consecutive first-time PGA TOUR winners -- Tim Petrovic (2005), Chris Couch (2006), Nick Watney (2007) and Andres Romero (2008).

Danny Lee (76), the 18-year-old from New Zealand, who won the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst, is making his debut as a professional. Lee's round included four birdies and three double-bogeys. Lee is hoping to earn status on the PGA TOUR by earning enough money from his limited number of invitations to secure a card for 2010. He will need to earn the equivalent of 125th position on the 2008 money list ($852,752), or land a victory, to be fully exempt and avoid a trip to the National Qualifying Tournament.

Several players have earned PGA TOUR cards without going through q-school. Here is a list of former U.S Amateur Champions who avoided q-school to make it to the TOUR.