J.T. Poston launched the new PGA Tour season with an impressive 10-under 62 to claim the lead in the opening round of The American Express on Thursday. Securing a one-stroke advantage over Justin Lower, Poston showcased his prowess on the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West, a venue that suits his game, having previously finished tied for sixth in 2023 and 11th the prior year. This tournament marks the third event of the season and is one of only two pro-ams on the PGA calendar, held across three expansive courses in the Palm Springs-area desert.
Poston's round featured nine birdies and an eagle, setting a formidable pace for his competitors. His familiarity and success on desert courses were evident as he previously clinched a victory in Las Vegas last fall, which contributed to him being named the tour's rookie of the year after another win at the Barracuda Championship in Truckee, California.
"When I feel like I'm really hitting it good, I feel like I've got all the shots and can get the ball close to the hole and really take advantage of those scoring clubs," said J.T. Poston.
Trailing closely behind, Justin Lower carded a remarkable round himself, finishing just one stroke behind Poston. Lower's consistent performance placed him ahead of a group at 8-under, which included notable players Jason Day, Joel Dahmen, Chris Kirk, J.J. Spaun, and Matti Schmid.
"I don't even think I've done it in just a regular round, but let alone a tournament round. Yeah, any time you can make back-to-back eagles, it certainly helps the score," remarked Justin Lower.
Other notable performances included Tony Finau at 7-under and solid starts for Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay, who shot 67 and 68 respectively. Defending champion Nick Dunlap made his return to La Quinta with a 67, following his historic win as an amateur last year before turning professional. His transition from collegiate golf to the professional circuit has been closely watched.
Seventeen-year-old Blades Brown made his professional debut on a sponsor exemption, carding a 72. Despite initial nerves, Brown is eager to learn and grow from this experience.
"It was challenging the first couple of holes, just because my adrenaline was up," explained Blades Brown.
Canadian golfer Nick Taylor continued his strong form following his Sony Open victory with a 65 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course. His momentum from last week adds another layer of competition to this already intense tournament.
"I feel like I can go out there and make a bunch of birdies like I did today, so a tournament like this sort of plays into that," shared J.T. Poston on his strategy moving forward.
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