The Live Report: Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Round 1

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Louisiana native David Toms, who won in New Orleans in 2001, is seeking his first victory on TOUR since 2006.

Live Report essentials

PGATOUR.COM's The Live Report has all the news and notes from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and we'll be providing updates all day long for each round, so check back often. FOR COMPLETE ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS COVERAGE, click here. LIVE SCORING: Leaderboard | LISTEN: PGA TOUR Network | RESPOND: Facebook | Twitter | FanZone

CLOSING STRONG (7:17 p.m.): After making the turn in even par -- with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18 -- Greg Owen didn't waste any time in turning his day around with a 31 over his final nine holes.

Owen made five birdies on the front nine at TPC Louisiana, where he took just 25 putts (tied for 11th in the field).

That's quite a turnaround not only between nines, but in the last two months. Owen hasn't finished in the top 50 since the middle of February and has missed three of his last six cuts. It also leaves Owen just two shots back as Round 1 wraps up. -- Brian Wacker

OWEN ON A ROLL (6:58 p.m.): One player making a late move: Greg Owen. The Brit is 5 under with one hole left in his round after making seven birdies and just two bogeys. Five of those birdies for Owen have come in the last eight holes. Owen has been getting it done with the flat stick, taking just 24 putts -- including four of five from 10-20 feet. -- Brian Wacker

OPENING ROUND ROLLS ON (6:32 p.m.): K.J. Choi continues to be solid in the opening round this season. A week after shooting 64 at the Verizon Heritage, Choi is in good position again having just finished off a round of 4-under 68 to sit in a tie for sixth.

That marks the fifth time this year Choi has opened with a 68 or better (see below). -- Brian Wacker

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (6:03 p.m.): Charles Howell shot a 4-under 68 in the morning wave, which gives him 10 straight sub-par rounds in this event. Also, 16 of his 29 career rounds in this tournament have been in the 60s. Howell is now a combined 83 under in 29 rounds here. -- Brian Wacker

GARCIA CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE (5:50 p.m.): How frustrated is Sergio Garcia with his golf right now? Enough to have tossed his club -- into the woods -- on the 16th hole.

After pulling his tee shot well left on the 343-yard hole, Garcia's next shot came up well short of the green, causing him to toss his club disgustedly.

The good news? He still made par -- and he found his club. -- Brian Wacker

NO DUFFER: (5:40 p.m.): Jason Dufner has missed just one cut (Northern Trust Open) in 11 starts this season. He also has three top-25s in 2010, though has yet to post a top-10 finish.

That could of course change here this week with Dufner sitting in a tie for second two shots off the lead after a 67.

Last year, Dufner earned his career-best T2 finish at the 2009 Deutsche Bank Championship, one of six top-10 finishes last year and went on to his most successful season on TOUR with an 11th place finish in the FedExCup. -- Mark Williams

SUTHERLAND MOVING UP (5:08 p.m.): Few players in the afternoon wave have been able to make a move on the lead, but Kevin Sutherland has been an exception. Sutherland is bogey-free with two birdies an eagle, the latter of which came on a hole-out from 124 yards on No. 8. Sutherland has also missed just one green in regulation through 14 holes. -- Brian Wacker

SERGIO'S STRUGGLES (4:51 p.m.): It has not been a good two months for Sergio Garcia. Since reaching the consolation match of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, he has just one finish in the top 40. He's also coming off a missed cut in Hilton Head, and he's likely headed toward another at 3 over through his first 12 holes.

Garcia, who has been playing with an injured hand and has had to therefore adjust his grip, has struggled finding any rhythm. He has two birdies, two double bogeys and one bogey so far.

Last year, Garcia admitted his break-up with longtime girlfriend Morgan-Leigh Norman affected his game. This year, it's been injury for the 30-year old. -- Brian Wacker

MORE WDs (4:36 p.m.): The list grows for those who have withdrawn from the tournament. George McNeill (elbow) and John Mallinger (shoulder) each pulled out during their opening round.

McNeill was 6 over through 11 holes, while Mallinger was 7 over through eight holes. That brings the total to seven players who have pulled out. -- Brian Wacker

WHAT'S AT STAKE (4:16 p.m.): The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is the final week to gain entry to THE PLAYERS Championship via the FedExCup points list. Rickie Fowler, at No. 21 in the FedExCup standings (through Verizon Heritage), is the highest-ranked player not otherwise qualified for THE PLAYERS. Derek Lamely (77) is No. 35. Those not qualified among the top-10 in the FedExCup standings through Zurich earn exemptions into THE PLAYERS. If the field is less than 144 at that point, those players No. 11 and beyond in the FedExCup standings not previously eligible gain entry until the field is complete at 144. -- Mark Williams

MORE ON BOHN (4:03 p.m.): Jason Bohn's opening-round 65 is his lowest opening round at a PGA TOUR event since the 2006 U.S. Bank in Milwaukee. Here's a look at Bohn's career-low, round-one scores on TOUR. -- Mark Williams

WHY THEY LOVE NOLA (3:42 p.m.): In addition to a purse that includes a winner's check of more than $1.1 million, the other big reason players love coming to TPC Louisiana is the food.

"That's why I come," David Duval said. "I've been coming here a long, long time. I like it here. I like the golf course. I like the people. I especially like to eat."

As for his 4-under 68, Duval was much more comfortable than at the Masters, where he missed the cuts with rounds of 76-75.

"I probably got myself a little hyped up, a little overworked heading into the Masters," Duval said. "I came here, spent some time working and just feel good about what I'm doing. " -- Brian Wacker

BOHN'S BAD HOLE (3:24 p.m.): Jason Bohn wasn't just trying to break the course record, he was trying to eagle the par-5 18th.

"It was kind of downwind," said Bohn, who hit a cut 3-iron from 246 yards on his approach that found the water. "I absolutely felt like I could make the three there. I felt like with a good bounce and as well as I was putting, if I could give myself a 20, 25-footer I could make a three. So I was playing fairly aggressively."

This isn't the first time Bohn has gone low, though. When he won the 2005 B.C. Open, he shot a final-round 64.

"It's such a marathon out here," Bohn said. "It's just one day. But it's great for me to get off to a good start. I needed this."

Especially after last week, when Bohn opened with a 77 before missing the cut at the Verizon Heritage.

"I felt like [today] was a special round," Bohn said. "I made two nice putts on the first two holes. That kind of just really engrained my confidence with my flat stick today. Even making bogey at the last, it was still a good round, so I'm pretty excited." -- Brian Wacker

WIND PICKS UP, SO DO SCORES (3:07 p.m.): We're into the afternoon wave at TPC Louisiana, where all the low scores have come in the morning. The lowest score currently on the course? A 2 under by four different players with Alex Cejka the furthest along of that group through nine holes.

Blame it on the wind, which has picked up significantly, and the greens firming up. -- Brian Wacker

MOST INTERESTING SCORECARD OF THE DAY (2:41 p.m.): Shooting 72 usually isn't very noteworthy -- unless you start your day with a quadruple-bogey 8. That's what Tim Herron did Thursday, hitting his tee shot out of bounds followed by a fourth shot and a fifth that missed the green on the 402-yard 10th hole. Herron then two-putted from 16 feet.

The rest of Herron's day obviously went much smoother. He birdied the par-5 11th and went on to add five more birdies -- and just two bogeys -- for his even-par score.

If not for that quad? Herron would have broken 70 for just the second time this season. His best finish this year is a tie for 23rd in Cancun. -- Brian Wacker

SPLASH GOES THE RECORD (2:16 p.m.): So much for that course record. Jason Bohn rinsed his second shot, finding the water to the right of the 18th fairway. He took a drop, hit his next shot to 21 feet, two-putted for bogey and shot 65. Kyle Reifers remains in the books for now, but the good news for Bohn is that he remains in the lead.

Below is a look at Bohn's scorecard. Click here to replay his round with Shot Tracker. -- Brian Wacker

CLOSING IN (2:05 p.m.): Jason Bohn is closing in a course record at TPC Louisiana, where a birdie on the 18th hole would give him a 63, breaking the mark set by Kyle Reifers in 2007. -- Brian Wacker

FAXON FIRES RARE ROUND (1:41 p.m.): Back from the booth and his duties with NBC, now that the bulk of the upcoming golf has been/is on CBS, Brad Faxon did something he's only done once this year: break 70 in the opening round.

Faxon shot a 3-under 69 with five birdies and two bogeys. Naturally, he putted pretty well, too, taking just 25 putts -- 14-for-15 inside 10 feet and 3-for-3 from 10-15 feet.

It's been an otherwise difficult year for Faxon, who has missed eight of nine cuts, including his last four. That could certainly change this week with Faxon currently tied for ninth. -- Brian Wacker

COURSE RECORD IN DANGER (1:15 p.m.): Jason Bohn is still 7 under and now through 14 holes, but with the par-5 18th still to come he has a chance of at least tying the course record of 64 set by Kyle Reifers in 2007. -- Brian Wacker

DUVAL, HOWELL ONE BACK (1 p.m.): So much for that "don't expect a ton of birdies" line. Jason Bohn is 7 under through 13 holes with seven birdies, including four over his last five holes. That's what happens when you miss two fairways, one green and take 18 putts.

Meanwhile, David Duval and Charles Howell III are a shot off the clubhouse lead after matching 68s. Duval, who started on the back nine, made 10 straight pars before making four birdies over his last eight holes. Howell spread his love around with two birdies on the front and one birdie and an eagle on the back.

What an odd season it's been for Duval, though. He's either contended or been completely out of it. In eight tournaments, Duval has five missed cuts. In the other events, he's tied for 76th, 41st and second (Pebble Beach). -- Brian Wacker

DUFNER IN WITH 67 (12:45 p.m.): The clubhouse leader is Jason Dufner, who just turned in a round of 5-under 67. Dufner had just one bogey to go with six birdies. While he hit a so-so 64 and 67 percent of his fairways and greens, respectively, more importantly he averaged just 1.5 putts per green in regulation. He was also perfect from inside 10 feet, going 17-for-17. -- Brian Wacker

Below is a look at Dufner's scorecard. Click here to replay his round with Shot Tracker. -- Brian Wacker

DAVIS BACK AT IT (12:31 p.m.): Less than a week after calling a two-stroke penalty from himself that eliminated any hopes of winning in Hilton Head, Brian Davis is back on the golf course.

The Brit arrived in New Orleans Tuesday night (he'll tee off at 1 p.m. ET today) and not surprisingly has been getting a lot of reaction over his decision.

"I kept getting text messages from my friends making fun of me and making light of the situation because I've got a pretty good sense of humor with my friends," Davis said. "But I am taken aback. I'm taken back by not necessarily golf people that watch it, just people that heard about it, then watched it on the news or whatever. Even my agent in the U.K. was overwhelmed by what was coming in. It's been a weird experience."

Some of that ribbing came from Johnson Wagner, who spotted Davis on the putting green on Wednesday. He said, "At least you hit a nice putt on 18, because the one on 17 was pathetic."

Still, Davis admits it will be tough to put behind him, even while putting it all in perspective.

"The last couple of days have been busy, it's been tough," Davis said. "But it's one of those things where it's nothing but a positive for me. I came to the 72nd hole needing a birdie. I hit one of the best 6-irons of my life and made the putt. And, for me, that was the ultimate." -- Brian Wacker

SENDEN A MESSAGE (12:12 p.m.): Chris Couch has company at the top of the leaderboard with John Senden now at 5 under as well. The Aussie has six birdies and just one bogey through his first 12 holes, which is just as impressive as the fact that he's hit 11 of 12 greens in regulation so far. As mentioned earlier, Jerry Kelly won this event last year while leading the field in GIR. -- Brian Wacker

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (11:45 a.m.): Tipping out at over 7,300 yards, TPC Louisiana is one of the longest courses players will see all year. Not surprisingly, it yields some pretty tough numbers (see the 2009 stats below). In other words, don't expect a ton of birdies here this week. -- Brian Wacker

COUCH ON TOP (11:35 a.m.): To say Chris Couch's career has been a roller-coaster would be an understatement. The former University of Florida star had a strong start to his career with a tie for seventh in his first event on the PGA TOUR and a win the following year. At the same time, though, he had thoughts of giving up the game to become a club pro. Then the next few years, he bounced back and forth between the Nationwide and PGA TOUR before suffering a shoulder injury which took at least two years to recover from.

Fast forward to this season, though, and Couch is delivering on the promise he showed as a two-time All-American at Florida. Couch has a pair of top-5 finishes and he's threatening again with a good start in New Orleans.

Couch has three birdies in his last four holes and five through his first 11 to get to 5 under and the top of the leaderboard at TPC Louisiana.

Playing on a Major Medical Extension, Couch has 21 events to earn just under $800,000 to regain full status on the PGA TOUR. With more than $577,000 already earned, he's well on his way and a good week here would put him over the number he needs. -- Brian Wacker

HOWELL'S FAST START (11:10 a.m.): Charles Howell III is fifth in scoring average and second in total birdies on the TOUR and he's off to another good start this week. Howell, who started on the back nine, birdied No. 11, eagled the par-5 18th and birdied the par-5 second. That has him at 3 under and near the top of a very early leaderboard.

Though Howell hasn't finished in the top 20 in nearly two months, he does have three top-10s this season, including a tie for fourth in Phoenix. He also has a strong track record in this event with runner-up finishes last year and in 2006. He also tied for fifth in 2004 and was seventh in 2001. -- Brian Wacker

CHECKING IN WITH THE CHAMP (11 a.m.): Defending champion Jerry Kelly is already on the course, having made the turn in 1 under after two birdies and a bogey on the back nine at TPC Louisiana.

Last year, Kelly led the field in greens in regulation at nearly 80 percent. Thursday, he hit just five of his first nine greens. Still, that might not be so bad. In your bizarre stat of the day, Kelly was the only player on the PGA TOUR last year to win a tournament while leading the field in GIR.

Two other key numbers for Kelly last year: He averaged 5 feet closer to the pin on his approach shots than the field, and he didn't miss from inside 5 feet all week while also making 10 putts of 10 feet or longer.

You can track Kelly's round live with Shot Tracker by clicking here. -- Brian Wacker

Groups We're Watching

Tee time Players   1:20 p.m. ET No. 10 Ben Crane, Sergio Garcia, Mark Wilson Crane looks to build on his 10th-place standing in the FedExCup, while Garcia wants to shake off last week. 1:30 p.m. ET, No. 1 K.J. Choi, Andres Romero, Rory Sabbatini Three players on different roads. Choi's on top of his game. Romero aims to regain past form. Sabbatini's been up and down. 1:30 p.m. ET, No. 10 Scott Verplank, Boo Weekley, Mike Weir Veteran Verplank plays with Weekley, who looked good at the Heritage, and Weir, who likely has a few events before a break.

MORE ROUND 1: Tee times | Inside the field | Inside the course