SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Ted Purdy's play in the first round of the Texas Open matched the weather.
Purdy closed with eagle-birdie Thursday, tying the course record of 9-under 61 that gave him a three-shot lead over four players.
He hit 14 fairways on a windless, hot day. He reached all but one green in regulation and needed 26 putts in his best professional round.
"I hit the ball better today than I have maybe ever in my life," said Purdy, who missed the cut in five of his past seven events since finishing second at the B.C. Open in July.
The 61 tied the mark set by Garrett Willis in the second round of the 2002 event. It was the fourth 61 on the PGA Tour this year.
At 64 were Jim McGovern, Tim Clark, Dean Wilson and J.J. Henry. Six players shot 65, including two-time champion Justin Leonard, and another 17 were at 66.
The round was the hottest this year, with temperatures reaching 95. With the humidity, it felt more like 102.
"I was sweating by the time I got to the 10th green," said McGovern, who began his round on that hole.
The high heat certainly didn't seem to bother Purdy, who called it "a perfect day for scoring."
He said his coach made a slight correction in his swing this week, and he could feel the difference early in the round.
"I knew I could shoot a low number today," he said. "After I got it to 6 under, I'm going, "Oh man, I can shoot 59 on this golf course."'
McGovern shot a season-low 64, which he credited to good putting. "I'm not the greatest putter in the world," he said. "I'm pretty streaky, and I'm starting to roll it pretty good."
McGovern started on No.10 with his only bogey when he two-putted from 12 feet. He got that stroke back on the next hole, then had four birdies in a five-hole stretch in the middle of his round and two more at the end.
Clark made birdies on five of his first six holes and was at 7 under with two to play. He bogeyed No.8 after hitting his drive far to the left.
