Aaron Rai and Sudarshan Yellamaraju made encouraging starts at the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour, both carding 3-under 68 to sit tied ninth after the opening round.
Rai produced a steady bogey-free round featuring three birdies, while Yellamaraju’s card included six birdies against a bogey and a double bogey.
Austin Smotherman set the early pace with a sensational bogey-free 9-under 62, equalling his lowest round on the PGA Tour. The American hit 10 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in regulation while collecting nine birdies, including six in a row from the seventh through the 12th holes.
Nico Echavarria sits second after returning a flawless 8-under 63. The Colombian, who has had four missed cuts this season along with a top-10 finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, stayed error-free throughout his round.
Daniel Berger, chasing his fourth top-five finish in 10 starts at this event, is tied third after a round of 67 alongside Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan, Sweden’s Pontus Nyholm, Jackson Suber, Kevin Roy and Taylor Moore.
Among the notable names, 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry and defending champion Joe Highsmith both opened with rounds that placed them tied 35th. Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka struggled with a 74 and sits tied 98th after the first day.
Photo – Scoregolf / Sudarshan Yellamaraju
