SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — The PGA Tour's youngest rookie received a rude welcome Thursday in the Phoenix Open.
Seventeen-year-old Ty Tryon figured the toughest part of his debut would be nerves. He also had to deal with cold, blustery conditions, and a golf swing that went on recess.
"The more bad shots I hit, the more nervous I got," he said.
Tryon recovered with a birdie on his final hole for a 6-over 77. Only one other player fared worse in the opening round.
Steve Flesch, meanwhile, ran off four straight birdies and wound up with a 64 for a one-stroke lead over Duffy Waldorf.
"Believe me, he won't shoot many 77s," Flesch said. "I saw Q-school on TV when he shot 66 with everyone watching. Today was knocking a little rust off, getting through that first PGA Tour round. He'll be fine."
Tryon didn't hit a fairway until his eighth hole and didn't have a birdie putt on any of the par 5s.
"It was a tough day," he said. "It was windy, cold, I was nervous and I was hitting shots that I didn't want to hit."
It wasn't an easy day for anyone who played early. The round began 15 minutes late because of frost, and the temperature was 41 degrees when play finally began. Fittingly, the best score of the morning group came from a Canadian, Glen Hnatiuk, who carded a 67.
Vijay Singh had a 66 in his first round of the year and was joined by Matt Kuchar, Skip Kendall and Tom Lehman. Mike Weir and Cameron Beckman were among those at 67, while John Daly, Fred Couples and Charles Howell III were at 68.
David Duval withdrew.
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