Low scores and big names at the top are quite common here. Two holes-in-one on the same hole three groups apart - Brandt Snedeker and Greg Chalmers on the 16th - were a first.
On a breezy day that saw a little bit of everything, it was Scott’s presence that brought to mind the tournament’s early days, back when the course looked and played differently and Scott was a scruffy 23-year-old taking on Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh.
“I can still remember a lot about it. I wasn’t even a member of the tour. That’s how I got my membership,’’ Scott said. “I was a sponsor’s invite, I think. Just to be in the mix of a PGA Tour event was really the big buzz for me. It was a big deal, obviously, for me. To beat Tiger was a big deal. I think that’s probably the first time I ever did that.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing here. It sets up well for me.’’
The 63 was topped only by the second-round 62 he used to win in 2003, but it’s the sixth straight time he has broken 70 at TPC Boston. It also extended a torrid stretch he has been on since missing the cut at the US Open. In his last five starts, he has tied for third at the AT&T National, tied for 25th at the British Open, won at Firestone, tied for seventh at the PGA, and tied for 67th at the Barclays.
“I haven’t had all parts of my game feeling this good over a period of time for a long time, and that’s probably why I’m able to keep up the good play,’’ Scott said. “Everything is in a good place.’’
He felt the 69 he opened with was the highest score he could have shot, and left with steam coming out of his ears after two late three-putts. The putts that were misread and mis-hit Friday were all finding the hole yesterday, with Scott one-putting 10 times, including five straight, starting on No. 18 and continuing to the front nine.
