LA QUINTA, Calif. - Even after Derek Lamely strung together the longest streak of birdies and eagles on the PGA Tour in nearly four years, he realized it's still very early in the Bob Hope Classic.
Lamely shot a 9-under 63 in the first round Wednesday, playing a six-hole stretch in 7 under to take a one-stroke lead over J.J. Henry and Jhonattan Vegas.
"This is going to be definitely not a sprint," Lamely said after finishing his round under picturesque conditions in the Palm Springs area. "The golf courses are perfect. The weather is just so good. You've just got to go out and stay aggressive every hole."
Lamely had five birdies and an eagle in his six-hole run for the best stretch on the PGA Tour since Brandt Snedeker strung together an 8-under, seven-hole roll in early 2007 at Torrey Pines.
Lamely, 30, was the only American rookie to win last year, although the Puerto Rico Open was an opposite-field event.
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Boo Weekley led a pack of six at 65. The group includes former Arizona Wildcat Ricky Barnes and Matt McQuillan, who made it into the field after Donnie Hammond withdrew Wednesday.
Chip shots
• Tiger Woods will start his season Jan. 27-30 in San Diego. Woods officially entered the Farmers Insurance Open on Wednesday, which has become the traditional start of his season since 2006. He has won the last five times he played at Torrey Pines, including the 2008 U.S. Open in a playoff over Rocco Mediate.
• PGA Tour money champion Matt Kuchar, two-time winner J.B. Holmes and Anthony Kim committed Wednesday to play in the Phoenix Open on Feb. 3-6 at TPC Scottsdale. Masters champion Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Robert Allenby and Rickie Fowler confirmed earlier they will play in the event.
• Scottish golfer Elliot Saltman has been banned for three months by the European Tour for marking his ball incorrectly in an event last year. A statement released by the tour said Saltman "committed a serious breach" of regulations and was suspended from all European Tour and Challenge Tour-sanctioned tournaments. The incident happened during the first round of the Russian Challenge Cup on Sept. 16.
