PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- This wasn't the start Mike Weir had in mind.

Weir bogeyed the first hole and struggled to make par on the second hole. Not that way to get rolling when the scouting report on Pebble Beach says go low early because it gets harder as the day goes on.

But then it happened, the shot that turned Weir's round around. From 90 yards out, Weir hit what he called "a little sand wedge" that nearly went in, but ended just 14 inches from the hole. A tap in later, Weir notched the first of five straight birdies en route to a 9-under 63 at Pebble Beach in the opening round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

"It's funny how it turns out like that," Weir said. "I wasn't feeling real comfortable with my swing. I just happened to hit a close shot and build my confidence and the day turned out great."

Gee, you think? After struggling last season as well as the last two weeks, a 63 was hardly on anyone's mind for Weir. But after working on "a bunch of things" Weir was seeing the results, even if it took awhile for his scorecard to show it.

"The (Bob Hope Chrysler Classic) I played well and I felt like I had a chance to win there. The other two weeks? Not so good," Weir said. "But I've been showing all the signs, all my practicing is going well and I've been very encouraged with a lot of things in my game this year so far."

The changes are subtle. A minor adjustment in his grip, some setup things, some technical things that deal with the club getting in better position and other things you need a golf translator to understand.

And, of course, there is the change in the waggle. It's more like two quickies instead of just a mid-level one.

"Just trying to get a feel for the shot instead of the longer waggle, which was just not setting me up for the shot I wanted to hit," Weir said. "A little smaller waggle I feel in my hands a little better and sense the shot better."

Still, it wasn't the perfect day. Yes, the weather was ideal -- "There wasn’t a zephyr of wind," Weir said. And yes, he really said zephyr -- and it was obvious the scores would be low. But who knew a 63 would only be good enough for second?

"I knew there were going to be some low scores today," Weir said. "Ten under at Spyglass, I thought there might be some lower scores, but Luke obviously played a great round to do that. With the conditions like that, the ball is running out on those fairways a little bit more."

And the irony isn't lost that on a day built for long hitters, it's the little guys who are on top of the leaderboard.

"They probably don't have as big an advantage as last week in Phoenix. Some of the guys can carry the bunkers, but you don't have a lot of that here," Weir said. "It's more position, being in the right spot on the greens and precise play around here compared to last week when the long guys could just let it go."

But for now, Weir will just keep slowly working on his changes, getting a little better every round and enjoying the moment.

"I like the format. I like the casual atmosphere that you are playing with your amateur partner and just walking down the fairway and talking about anything," Weir said. "And then, you know, the golf courses I love, they just set up well for me. I have played them so much that I know what to do out here."

Even if it sometimes takes a couple holes to remember.