Seeking a first victory since winning last year’s Masters, Charl Schwartzel shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Thailand Golf Championship.
The South African made seven birdies in a bogey-free round at Amata Spring Country Club, four coming in the opening seven holes, to hold a narrow advantage over Thitiphun Chuayprakong (66).
“I’m very happy with the way my game has started getting back,” Schwartzel said.
“Last month and a half, I’ve been able to start working on my swing again and getting my swing back to what it was a year or so ago.
“My consistency is coming back, and that to me is key.”
Third-ranked Bubba Watson (68) had an eagle and six birdies to lie three shots off the lead, while defending champion Lee Westwood (70) was in 21st place.
“It was a solid round but I made a few mistakes,” said Watson, this year’s Masters winner.
“Hit a cart patch and bounced into the woods and had to take an unplayable, and had a three putt on the 17.”
Daniel Chopra shot a 67 to share third place with Javi Colomo.
Schwartzel opened his round with two straight birdies, picked up two more shots at six and seven and then holed birdie putts on three of the last six holes on the par-72, 7,453-yard course.
“I found many fairways and, to me, that’s the key on this golf course because the rough is so high,” Schwartzel said.
“It’s nice to put yourself in position.
“You’re not going to win the golf tournament after round one, but you sure can lose it.”
Sergio Garcia (69) shared 10th place with Thaworn Wiratchant, the current No.1 on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.