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Rain and golf tournaments don't normally mix well. Remember how well the recent U.S. Open went? But the golfers who had early tee times during Thursday's opening round of the AT&T National tournament at Congressional Country Club certainly didn't mind Wednesday's evening showers.
While the heat and humidity this time of year normally bake the fairways and greens into submission, the rain softened the course, helping the PGA professionals place shots onto the greens with less risk of watching the ball roll past the intended target.
"The golf course is very soft," said defending champion Anthony Kim, who teed off at 8 a.m. and finished with a tournament course record 8-under par 62. "The golf course being soft was huge. Especially with my fade that I'm hitting, I can use more of the fairway when it's wet, so it's not going to roll as much, and I keep the ball in play."
Kim was one of many early morning golfers who took advantage of the beneficial conditions. The others were D.A. Points (6-under 64), Daniel Chopra (4-under 66), Jim Furyk (4-under 66), Justin Rose (3-under 67), Boo Weekley (3-under 67) and Michael Allen (3-under 67), who all teed off before 9 a.m.
"The greens are real soft, and getting out in the morning is a big advantage because they're probably going to get a little bumpy, and they might get a little crusty [later]," Chopra said. "I had to try to take advantage of it, and fortunately I did."
The low scores tailed off some during the afternoon session, but Bryce Molder (6-under 64), Steve Elkington (5-under 65), Tiger Woods (6-under 64) and Stuart Appleby (4-under 66) worked their way up the leader board with solid rounds as well.
"You can be aggressive, and if you pull it off, this is the day to pull it off because the greens are so soft," Woods said. "If you get aggressive and get it going, you post a number [like Kim's 62] out there."
With dry skies and temperatures in the low to mid 80s forecasted for the weekend, a curbing of low scores could be in order.
"It's playing well," Furyk said. "Right now, it's soft, which makes it easy to get the ball in the fairway. It makes it a little easier to get aggressive with iron shots, and that's why you're seeing some good scores out there.
"The greens were good this morning, but .... because of how soft they are and how wet they are, they're going to get beat up with footprints and all kinds of traffic, but we'll have to deal with that tomorrow, Furyk added."
Here are other notes from Thursday's first round:
Best shot
Bryce Molder, trying to land some 15 feet from the cup, drove a shot out of the right sand bunker to within five feet of the hole on the par-4, 437-yard No. 17 hole. Molder explained that had he gone for five feet from the cup, the shot might have landed in the rough just outside the bunker instead.
Biggest gallery reaction
Tiger Woods being introduced on the No. 1 tee as throngs lined around the tee box. Woods garnered applause when he stepped onto the tee, then his powerful tee shot drew oohs, aahs and whistles from patrons who began their four-hour march with Woods and his threesome.
Best gallery comment
When asked if Tiger Woods was practicing on a putting green, a fan stated flatly to his friend, "Yes. Why do you think there are so many people watching?" Turns out the gentleman was wrong as Woods had actually warmed-up on a different putting green earlier.
Best fashion statement
The uniforms worn by the various military personnel in attendance as the nation nears Independence Day. A close second was the camouflage shirt worn by PGA golfer Boo Weekley.
Weather: 85 and cloudy.
Attendance: 34,202
