Rankings for the first round of the Zozo Championship:
-7 T Moore (United States); -6 E Cole (USA), M Greyserman (USA), N Echavarria (Col)
Others selected: -2 R Fowler (US), M Kuchar (US) H Hall (English); -1 S Power (Ireland); +3 X Schauffele (United States); +6 D Skinns (English)
Xander Schauffele called himself an “idiot” after making a quadruple bogey eight in the opening round of the PGA Tour’s Zozo Championship in Japan.
The 30-year-old American’s wayward tee shot on the par-four ninth at Narashino Country Club got stuck among the roots of a tree.
Rather than face a penalty, the two-time major winner twice attempted to hit the ball from the roots – but failed to dislodge it.
Schauffele shook his head and laughed as he considered making a third attempt, but ultimately accepted an unplayable lie.
“I almost wanted to take a picture of it, how bad it was. The fact that I think I can do anything definitely put me in a hole,” Schauffele said.
“I should have taken an unplayable, but I was stupid and tried to hit him. Then I was stubborn and tried to hit him again, then I ended up taking an unplayable .”
It was the only blemish in an otherwise straightforward three-over 73 round for Schauffele, who won both the PGA Open and the British Open earlier this year, which featured one birdie and 16 pars.
Schauffele is 10 shots behind first-round leader and compatriot Taylor Moore, whose round of 16 left him ahead at seven under par.
Moore holds a one-shot lead over fellow Americans Max Greyserman and Eric Cole, as well as Colombian Nico Echavarria.
Harry Hall in England, who won his first PGA Tour title in July, is five shots out of the lead at two under, while defending champion Collin Morikawa of the United States is another shot behind.
