Murtle Beach, S.C. — Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes birded the final four holes of an 8-under 63 on Friday, giving him a one-shot lead after the first round of the Myrtle Beach Classic.
Winners of the PGA Tour event, held opposite the signature event at this week’s Truist Championship, will win a spot if they do not yet qualify for the PGA Championship.
Not the two players that Hughes or two players fired behind him.
Will Chandler also shot a 64. He is not qualified for the PGA Championship yet.
Hughes finished with a gust of wind and made five birdies on the final six holes. He has won the PGA Tour twice, but it’s been more than two years since his last title.
He felt his putting had disappointed him in recent weeks, so he changed his routine by becoming faster and more instinctive on the green.
“I puttted nicely today,” he said. “Then, at the end, I set the fire on. I can’t remember the last four holes when I birded the last time I birded at the bar. But it definitely has a good finish.”
The 66-year-old group included Nick Watney, 44, who hadn’t won in 13 years, and Blade Brown, 17, in his first year as a professional.