Vegas, McGirt share Shriners Open lead after first round

It's only one round, and it's probably premature, but headline writers across America are licking their chops in anticipation of the possibility that Jhonattan Vegas is still in the lead late Sunday afternoon and ultimately wins the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

There's no telling how creative the puns will be come Monday.

Vegas did plenty right in Thursday's opening round at TPC Summerlin, carding 10 birdies in posting a career-best 8-under-par 63 to take the lead. Vegas shares the top spot with William McGirt, whose 63 was also a career best. Both were a stroke ahead of Nathan Green and Charlie Wi after a hot but windless day in the desert.

Eleven other golfers, including Henderson's Nick Watney and Las Vegas' Alex Cejka, were at 65. Defending champion Jonathan Byrd struggled to match par at 71.

"It was a great round, what can I say?" said Vegas, who has made $1.7 million this year and handled the 98-degree day with no problem. "I made a lot of putts (Thursday). The course is fair, and I put myself in good position. I hope I can do this for three more days."

If Vegas' putter stays hot, there's no reason he can't duplicate Thursday's performance. He kept the ball in the fairway, avoiding trouble, and other than three-putting the par-3 eighth and 17th holes, he played flawless golf.

"I've been working hard on my putting for a while," said Vegas, 27, who won the Humana Challenge in January and has bounced back from a midseason slump in which he missed the cut in six out of seven events. "It's all about basics: aim where you want to hit it, and hit it solid. I three-putted a couple of those par-3s, but I also made a few putts as well."

One of those came at No. 15 as he rolled in a 22-footer for birdie. He nearly made a 21-foot eagle putt at the par-5 16th, with the ball sliding by the hole but leaving him a tap-in for birdie.

Vegas squandered a golden opportunity to put a bit of distance between himself and those chasing him with his bogey at 17. But with his parents and 10 friends from his native Venezuela rooting him on, he bounced back with a 10-foot birdie putt at 18.

"It is what it is, man," he said of his wild finish. "You just have to stay positive. The more positive you can be, the better you'll be out there."

McGirt played mistake-free golf, signing a clean scorecard of eight birdies and no bogeys.

"I didn't start driving it that well," said McGirt, 32, who is trying to keep his playing privileges, standing No. 137 on the money list, with only the top 125 getting exempt status for 2012. "The key was my iron shots. I had a lot of 15-foot-and-in putts because I hit my irons so well."

McGirt and Vegas had never owned a first-round lead in a PGA Tour event prior to Thursday. McGirt doesn't plan to change anything when he tees off at 8:25 a.m. today from the No. 10 tee. Vegas tees off at 7:38 a.m., also from No. 10.

"It's a cool feeling," McGirt said of being the hunted. "But it doesn't really matter. Thursday through Saturday, you're just jockeying for position so that you can make a move on Sunday."

Thursday morning belonged to Green, whose 7-under 64 gave him the early lead. Green, a five-year tour veteran from Australia, missed the cut in 11 of his past 22 tournaments, so Thursday's round was a confidence booster.

"I haven't been on the leaderboard for about two years," said Green, 36. "I feel I needed motivation. I've been struggling off the tee and felt like it's gone through the rest of my game, and the putting has not been where it needs to be.

"It would be nice to play well this week and the next three weeks. I'd be happy with that."

Wi made a late-afternoon charge toward the top, finishing with birdies on two of his last three holes to put himself in contention. He started at No. 10 and made five straight birdies on the front side, making the turn at 5 under.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.