Follow usFloridan Billy Horschel and fellow American Joseph Bramlett shared the first-round lead at the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday after shooting five-under rounds of 65.
The event, which traditionally marks the start of the Florida Swing, has lost some appeal to many of the top players on the tour due to the changes in the schedule.
None of the world’s top 10 golfers are playing this week and sponsors Honda are ending their 42-year backing for the event after this year.
The 36-year-old Horschel, who has seven career PGA Tour wins, has lamented the decline of the tournament.
He is hoping to take advantage of the absence of the top stars to finally clinch a win in his home state.
Horschel has been struggling with a sinus infection and said that ailment had counter-intuitively helped him relax for the round, which featured six birdies and a bogey.
“There’s a saying – beware of the injured or sick golfer. I’m not like super, super sick, but I’m just not like a hundred percent,” he said.
“I think you are just sort of, a little bit easier on yourself. You’re sort of not worrying about everything.”
Bramlett, searching for a first win on the PGA Tour, was bogey free, starting his round with a 28-foot birdie putt on the par-four 10th before a brilliant 42-footer for birdie on the par-three 5th hole.
Photo: AFP
Suh leads Kirk by one at The Honda Classic 
