Pat Perez hits from the fairway on the eighth hole. Perez shot a 60 in the Bob Hope Classic on Wednesday in Palm Desert, Calif.

Palm Desert, Calif. ? Pat Perez shot a 12-under 60 in the opening round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Wednesday, joining some elite company.

Perez became only the 20th player in PGA Tour history to shoot 60 or lower. The record is 59, shared by David Duval, Chip Beck and Al Geiberger.

Consistently nestling his fairway shots close to the pin, Perez made 12 birdies and no bogeys over the 6,930-yard Arnold Palmer Course at PGA West for a three-shot lead over Chad Campbell.

Duval shot his 59 on the same layout on closing day of the 1999 Hope, rolling in a six-foot eagle putt on the final hole to win by one shot. He finished with 11 birdies and the eagle.

Steve Elkington was a stroke behind Campbell. John Huston, Olin Browne and Tom Pernice Jr. were tied for fourth with opening 65s.

Phil Mickelson, the Hope champion in 2002 and 2004, shot a 6-under 66 at La Quinta Country Club in his seasonal debut and was in a group six shots off the pace.

Mickelson had shot the most recent 60 on tour last year at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Defending champion Justin Leonard opened with a 67, as did Mike Weir, the Hope winner in 2003.