Steve Marino tames tough test at Spyglass Hill

STEVE Marino and D.A Points shared the lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am after the first day's play.

Two birdies on the last two holes helped Marino to a seven-under round of 65 at Spyglass Hill, with Points, who had actor Bill Murray as his partner, shooting a seven-under 63 at Monterey Peninsula. Alex Cejka trails by a shot in second place, having started his round with an albatross on the 10th, the first time a player had started a round on the PGA Tour with an albatross since at least 1982.

"It was the best start I've ever had," said Cejka, who covered his first four holes in a sizzling five-under. "I hit a really good drive on 10, and I was between a 5-wood and 3-wood. I choked down a little bit on the 3-wood and hit a really good shot."

Tom Gillis, Gary Woodland and Keegan Bradley are tied in fourth place on four under, with three-time major winner Padraig Harrington further back after shooting a three-under 69.

Hunter Mahan and Stuart Appleby are both handily placed at two-under, but Phil Mickelson had a tough day, ending up one-over, eight shots off the lead, along with Dustin Johnson.

"It was pretty cool," said Marino of his round afterwards. "I think it (the course) is the hardest of the three.

"It's the longest 6,900-yard golf course ever. So it was a lot of fun. I just played great and made a few putts, and I'm just real thrilled about it."