FORT WORTH, Texas – PGA Tour rookie and “stubborn” New York Knicks fan John Pack used his frustration to his advantage on Thursday, shooting a 7-under 63 to lead the Charles Schwab Challenge at the Colonial.
New Jersey’s raised pack found all the motivations he needed when his Knicks blew a 14-point lead in a 138-135 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night.
“I’m a stubborn Knicks fan and it’s historically one of the worst losses I’ve seen in my life,” said Puck, who has one top 25 finish in seven cuts at 12 events this year. “A fire was lit under me this morning. I was a little mad about it.”
From the par 4 10th, the pack stopped the 147-yard approach for the Eagle. He added five birdies to the bogey-free round. A 26-year-old Corn Ferry Tour alumni and PGA Tour Canada’s one-time winner is the fifth rookie to take a first-round lead at this year’s individual events.
He has led more than nine players by three shots, with JJ Spaun having the highest rank on the 27th. Tommy Fleetwood and 2023 Open Championship winner Brian Herman were one of the pack’s four players.
What are your plans for the pack for Thursday night, as he has the lead?
“Thankfully, the Knicks aren’t playing tonight so I won’t be underlined about that,” Puck said. “After last night’s defeat, I didn’t sleep well. I’m going to recover, do some stretching and watch the Thunder Game later tonight.”
Among the 15 players in the 5-shot are No. 1 in the world and Dallas resident Scotty Scheffler. Scotty Schaeffler’s playoff experience as a fan was far better than the pack.
Schaeffler, who won the PGA Championship, spent Wednesday evening at the American Airlines Center, cheering for the Dallas Stars’ 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the NHL’s Western Conference Finals.
“It was fun going to a hockey game last night,” Schaeffler said. “I was still able to get home and get quite a bit of rest.”
Schaeffler also opened his first round at Flair, drilling a hole for Eagle’s putt from the green on the PAR-5 first hole and second for birdie’s 23 footer putt.
“I’ve posted a decent score on a day when I didn’t hit a lot of fairways on a golf course, I have to hit a lot of fairways,” Schaeffler said. “In these conditions, it’s not a bad score around here. I’m clearly hoping it’s a little lower, but overall I feel decent about the position I’m in.”
Schaeffler’s fellow hometown favourite Jordan Spieth shot 69 with birdies on two cozy courses of the cozy course that became famous by Ben Hogan, the only player to win the colonial in consecutive years (1946-47 and 1952-53).
Joel Dermen made a hole-in-one on the 13th of 186 yards as the tee shot stopped about 25 feet behind the hole and went back in.
“Nine years from here, that’s a lot of PAR-3 attempts,” Derman said. “A lot of people looked good. It was pretty cool to get in.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.