IRVING, Texas — Fun-loving PGA Tour rookie James Nitties can get serious, too.
While not shy about his tour bio that lists his special interests as clubbing, girls and movies, the 26-year-old Australian is trying to stay focused on a stretch of tournaments that could culminate with a spot in the U.S. Open.
“It’s not easy, but I just made an executive decision where I have to play well over the next five weeks,” Nitties said. “It’s not just fun and games out here.”
Nitties finished with four consecutive birdies for a 5-under-par 65 on Thursday to share the first-round lead at the HP Byron Nelson Championship with Ken Duke, another surprise at the top of the leaderboard.
Duke snapped a streak of 11 consecutive rounds in the 70s to share the first-round lead for only the second time in his 118 career starts. His putt at No. 18 stopped 3 inches from the hole, or he could have had another birdie and the lead alone.
Mike Weir, Scott McCarron, Charles Howell III and Brad Adamonis shot 66s, and Jesper Parnevik and Tommy Armour III were among a group of a dozen players with 67s.
Defending champion Adam Scott started with consecutive bogeys and went on to a 71.
Nitties, who appeared on the Golf Channel’s “Big Break” series and finished second at the PGA Tour qualifying tournament last fall, was 1-under through 14 holes. After seeing the scores, he figured he’d be in decent shape with one more birdie.
“The scores, they weren’t that good, so it didn’t put any pressure on me to do anything crazy,” Nitties said. “I was thinking 2-under, I’ll be happy with. It’s just a solid day.”
As for those special interests listed on his bio, Nitties describes it as “pretty brutally honest” and normal for a single 26-year-old.
“I love going to the movies. I love hanging out with mates and having a couple of drinks in bars and chasing girls,” he said. “It’s typical of a guy. I’m just the only one that actually says it and doesn’t say I like hanging out and fishing.”
Hoch, Purtzer share Senior PGA lead
BEACHWOOD, Ohio — Scott Hoch bogeyed the final two holes for a 4-under 66 and share of the first-round lead with Tom Purtzer in the 70th Senior PGA Championship, the first major of the year for the over-50 set.
Germany’s Bernhard Langer, a two-time winner this year and the Champions Tour’s top money-winner, had a 68 and was alone in third.
Tom Kite, John Morse, Mark James, Joey Sindelar, Larry Mize, Dana Quigley and Fred Gibson were the only other players under par, each with a 69.
Footnotes.
Hee Young Park matched her career low with an 8-under 64 for a share of the LPGA Corning (N.Y.) Classic lead with Karine Icher.
• David Horsey, Anthony Wall and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano shot 5-under 67s to share the first-round lead in the BMW PGA Championship in Virginia Water, England. The Associated Press
