Bob MacIntyre ties Dustin Johnson again with sub-par start at Hilton Head
Making his debut in the event, MacIntyre carded three birdies as he bids to back up finishing joint-12th on his Masters debut last week to secure a return to Augusta National next April.
The 24-year-old Scot opened his birdie account with a two-putt gain at the second before bouncing back from dropped shots at the seventh and eight by getting close to the green at the par-4 ninth and hitting his second to three feet.
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Hide AdHis only deviance from par on the back nine came at the 13th, where the 2019 European Tour Rookie of the Year rolled in a 30-footer for a birdie. The effort left him tied for 46th at the end of the opening day.
Earlier, Russell Knox had posted a level-par 71, having started bogey-birdie running up a double-bogey 6 at 13th in between birdies at 10th and 15th coming home.
Australian Cameron Smith shot a bogey-free nine-under 62 to lead by a shot from 2009 Open champion Stewart Cink, who carded an eagle and seven birdies.
US PGA champion Collin Morikawa and Englishman Matt Wallace also started on a positive note with a bogey-free 65, with recent WGC Dell Technologies Match Play winner Billy Horschel opening with a 66 along with fellow Americans Charles Howell and Harold Varner.
Johnson signed for six birdies in a topsy-turvy round while European No 1 Lee Westwood dropped three shots in the last four holes, including a double-bogey 7 at the 15th as he had to settle for a 71.
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