Scott Langley made a rookie debut on the PGA Tour he won’t soon forget.
Russell Henley wasn’t too shabby, either.
Langley thrived on a penetrating ball flight and a pure putting stroke Thursday for an 8-under 62, giving him a one-shot lead over Henley in the Sony Open in Honolulu.
Henley played in the same group with Langley, and they put on a remarkable show along the back nine at Waialae Country Club. Henley made five birdies on the back nine, but couldn’t keep up at the end when he misplayed a chip on the par-5 18th.
Langley, a former NCAA champion from Illinois, played bogey-free and made a couple of long putts — including a 55-footer for eagle on No. 9.
Scott Piercy and Tim Clark were at 6-under par after a pair of 64s.
VOLVO CHAMPIONS
Thongchai Jaidee shot a 7-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead on the opening day of the Volvo Champions in Durban, South Africa.
Thongchai birdied six of his first 10 holes to end the day three shots ahead of two of South Africa’s major winners, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen.
Els, a two-time South African Open winner on the same Durban Country Club course, showed his fondness for the layout on the Indian Ocean shoreline with birdies on his first three holes.
Then he double-bogeyed the fourth and finished with a 4-under 68. Oosthuizen finished with three birdies in his 68.
Retief Goosen, who lost in a playoff a year ago, returned to competition after a five-month layoff following back surgery to shoot an even-par 72.