It was the 42nd most difficult hole on the PGA Tour in 2003 and 40th most difficult in 2002. So it was no surprise that the sixth tied for the most difficult Thursday with an average of 4.235 (same as the par-4 16th). There were just 12 birdies. There also were 34 bogeys and four double bogeys.
Stat of the day
The scoring average of 71.432 was more than 11/2 strokes better than the opening round last year, when it was 73.106.
Shot of the day
Jonathan Kaye's 3-iron at the 222-yard 17th went into the hole for an ace. By playing the closing two holes in four shots, Kaye shot 64 to trail Jeff Sluman by two strokes.
By the numbers
0 - Scores under 65 after the tournament's first rounds.
1 - Stroke required by Jonathan Kaye at the par-3 17th, the second ace in tournament history.
2 - Strokes required by Mike Weir at the par-4 12th, where he made eagle by holing his 163-yard second shot.
4 - Times Jeff Sluman has shot 62 in his career, including Thursday. It is his career low.
6 - Scores under 65 on the Copperhead course in tournament history: Jeff Sluman 62, K.J. Choi 63, Mike Hulbert, Jonathan Kaye, Kirk Triplett and Kent Jones 64.
6 - Bogey-free rounds: by Jonathan Kaye, Vijay Singh, Jeff Sluman, Craig Parry, Charles Howell and Justin Rose.
13 - Fairways hit by Joe Durant, the only player to hit them all during the first round.
