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Casey, Simpson tied for lead at 62 at calm Sony Open, Na leads Koreans

January 16, 2015

HONOLULU (AP) — Webb Simpson made his debut with a conventional putter Thursday at the Sony Open and might have wished he had used one sooner.

One year away from the new rule that outlaws anchored strokes, Simpson ditched his belly putter for a regular one for his 2015 debut and ran off eight birdies over his last 10 holes for an 8-under 62 that gave him a share of the lead with Paul Casey.

On a day that made the 144 players feel they were in paradise with sunshine and barely a breeze, Simpson and Casey led the low scoring at Waialae.

What set them apart is how they got there — Simpson with his conventional putter, Casey with his return to Honolulu for the first time in a decade.

“Today was a big day for me,” Simpson said. “I was extremely nervous — first round on the PGA Tour with a short putter. But I just had a couple (Bible) verses in my yardage book today that I kept reading, and I stayed calm. All thanks to God for giving me strength to just get through today.

“Today was a hurdle I felt like I needed to get over, and just real thankful.”

Kevin Na led the Koreans and Korean Americans in the field with a 4-under 66 even though he opened with a double bogey. He is currently tied for 14th.

Bae Sang-moon shot a 3-under 67 and is tied for 22nd.