Jenkins, Haas shoot rounds of 64 to lead after first round of Allianz

Jenkins, Haas have early lead at Allianz

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Jay Haas has quite the record playing in Florida.

It’s not a good one, either.

The 56-year-old has never won in 116 tries in the state, which includes his 102 appearances on the PGA Tour and his first 14 starts on the Champions Tour. Quite dubious mark for a nine-time winner on the regular tour who has already won 14 trophies on the senior circuit.

“I’m aware of it, but I didn’t come here thinking, ‘Golly, let’s get this monkey (off my back),’” Haas said Friday, after an 8-under 64 left him tied with Tom Jenkins for the lead after the opening round of the Allianz Championship.

“I don’t think early in my career I was a great wind player, and most of the time in Florida we played in the springtime when it was blowing,” Haas said. I would love to (win here), but I’d like to win anywhere.”

Haas started his round on the back side and at one point birdied six of seven holes. The 64 was his best round in four years of playing at the Old Course at Broken Sound.

“I putted today as good as I’ve putted in a long time and that kind of is the name of the game,” Haas said. “I played well, I hit a lot of good shots, but if you don’t finish it off it doesn’t do you much good.”

Jenkins was disappointed not to end the day at 10 under, after missing a 20-foot putt at 17 and a chip shot for eagle at 18. A round of 62 would have matched his age.

“You know you’re getting old when you start thinking about shooting your age,” he said.

Jenkins wasn’t complaining about his eight birdies and a share of the lead heading into Saturday’s second round, though.

“I drove the ball well, and my timing and rhythm are coming back,” Jenkins said.

Corey Pavin and Mike Reid were a stroke back after rounds of 65, although Pavin was tied with the leaders until a bogey on the par-3 eighth — his second-to-last hole.

“I made eight birdies and you want to talk about my one bogey,” said Pavin, laughing, when asked about where it went wrong. “I hit a kind of clunky shot on eighth, just clunked one that went right in the bunker.

“But I hit my irons pretty nicely today, drove the ball pretty good, and my putter finally started to behave pretty good.”

Four players withdrew from the Allianz Championship with injuries, including Champions Tour newcomer Paul Azinger, who cited a back injury. The other withdrawals were Hal Sutton with a back injury, Lee Trevino with a knee injury and Scott Hoch with a wrist injury.

Defending champion Mike Goodes finished with an opening-round 71.