PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) - Jordan Spieth could barely stand up and worried his hat would fly off in the middle of his swing.
From 176 yards downhill to the par-3 11th green at Monterey Peninsula, he ripped a 4-iron and hoped for the best. When he saw it land about 6 feet from the flag, he declared to anyone within earshot, “That’s the best shot I’ve ever hit.”
This was a snapshot of the nasty side of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday, with severe conditions that once led to the term “Crosby weather” from the days when Bing Crosby was the host and Pebble could be a blend of beauty and beast.
The PGA Tour moved up tee times by an hour to try to beat the storms, but it wasn’t enough. Already saturated, the greens on all three courses began holding enough water that play had to be suspended.
Seung-Yul Noh, Joel Dahmen and Rick Lamb each shot a 4-under 68 at Spyglass Hill to share the lead, and more importantly, they were among the 75 players who finished. The rest had to return at 7:30 a.m. Friday - with lingering rain in the forecast - to finish the round before moving on to another course.
Spyglass has the most shelter from the wind because of the inland holes cut through a forest.
Mark Hubbard had a 3-under 69 at Pebble Beach, which is exposed along the coast.
Spieth, even though he missed four putts inside 6 feet on the bumpy greens, was at 3-under par with two holes to play on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula.
Phil Mickelson had seven birdies through 17 holes at Monterey Peninsula. He also had two double bogeys and was 1 under with one hole to play.
MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Scotland’s Marc Warren shot a 9-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Maybank Championship.
Warren had four birdies and an eagle on his first nine holes at Saujana Golf and Country Club. The three-time European Tour winner added birdies on 12, 14 and 17.
Seventeen-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand opened with a 65, and Masters champion Danny Willett, American Peter Uihlein and local favorite Arie Irawan topped the group at 66.
The tournament is sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
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