Ex-Masters champ sets pace

Zach Johnson, who is coming off a win at the Texas Open last week and is best known for winning the 2007 Masters, went out in the fourth group of the morning and posted an impressive 10-under-par 62.
Johnson could have gone even lower.
He missed very makable 12-foot birdie putts on both the seventh and eighth holes, which were his 16th and 17th because he started at the 10th.
Even after shooting 62, Johnson referred to his round as "boring."
"I feel boring golf is when you hit the ball in the fairway, hit the green and give yourself a chance at the birdie," he went on to explain when pressed on how such a good round could be "boring."
He then stated the obvious, saying he would gladly take three more boring rounds the rest of the weekend.
UNR alum Michael Allen posted a 31 on the back nine to finish his round at 9-under 63.
Former U.S. Amateur champion and 2007 Nationwide Series player of the year Nick Flanagan was at 9-under and playing the ninth hole, his last of the day, but he somehow bogeyed the fairly simple hole to finish with a 64.
John Mallinger and Kevin Na went to the clubhouse tied with Flanagan at 8-under.

New Las Vegan plays well

Na moved to Las Vegas in September to live with his brother, who is attending graduate school.
He already has learned the ultimate Las Vegas golf cliche.
"I think everything does break towards the Strip a little bit," he said after completing his opening round.
He put the theory to good use on Thursday.
Na is within two shots of the early leader, but he knows there is still a long way to go.
"The winner (at this tournament) is always over 20-under, so I'm not even halfway there," he said.
Johnson spoke just moments and recited a similar theory about the breaks on the course.
"The only thing you really have to pay attention to is where the Stratosphere is," the early clubhouse leader said.

Low numbers early

The annual PGA stop at the TPC Summerlin traditionally features a great deal of golfers under par.
The morning session on Thursday was no different as 75 of the 114 golfers to tee off as of 12:30 p.m. were in red numbers.
The golf course's best defense against the professionals is wind.
There was very little of it to be found on Thursday.
The flags were barely moving and the average wind speed was generally around 6 mph.
Should the weather remain the same throughout the weekend, expect the winning score to look somewhat ridiculous.

Poor turnout

As usual, the first day of the tournament has not been exceptionally well-attended.
Review-Journal writer Steve Carp even decided to do a count of the main general parking lot, which is located at the intersection of Durango and Vegas drives.
At 9:15 a.m., only 58 cars were in the parking lot.
At least the traffic shouldn't be backed up getting out of there later on tonight.