News All Articles
Grace going well in Florida
News

Grace going well in Florida

Colombia’s Camilo Villegas grabbed the first round lead as Branden Grace impressed on the opening day of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach.

Branden Grace

Villegas, the 2010 champion, eagled the 18th to finish off a blemish-free round.

It was quite a charge from the Colombian, who was one under through 12, then picked up five strokes over the last six holes.

"It's a tough golf course," said Villegas. "And I like tough golf courses."

Behind him was a group of four players on five under – South African Grace, Graham DeLaet, Rickie Fowler and Robert Streb.

Last year’s four-time European Tour winner Grace stole a share of the second after he made a mockery of Palm Beach's 'Bear Trap' - the three famed holes from 15 to 17 - to finish his round of 65 with four successive birdies.

Co-leader DeLaet did not fare as well through the late test, recording his only blemish for the round at 16, but it did not matter as he recovered the stroke at 18 to go with his five earlier birdies, while Streb, like Villegas, eagled the last.

A group of ten players was a stroke further back including England's World Number Nine Lee Westwood and Americans Boo Weekley and Dustin Johnson.

Westwood carded four birdies in a blemish-free round, two on the front nine and two more on the back.

Read next