MEMPHIS – Harris English shot an 8-under-par 62 on Thursday to match his lowest score on the PGA Tour, and it was good for a two-stroke lead after the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
The former Baylor School and University of Georgia golf standout has won two of the four times he has led or shared the lead after the opening round of a PGA Tour event. However, of his four career victories, half have required playoffs to finish them off, including both of his wins this year: a one-hole triumph over Joaquin Niemann at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in early January and an eight-hole grind against Kramer Hickok at the Travelers Championship in late June.
Either way, the 32-year-old English obviously has more work to do to add a fifth win, but even his first round showed some of the toughness that undoubtedly has helped him in playoff golf. He’s also happy to be back at TPC Southwind, the site of his first PGA Tour victory eight years ago.
“I just love this place,” English said. “From the time I first came here in 2013, it’s been one of my favorite places to play.”
He birdied the first four holes Thursday, making a 27-foot putt on the par-4 second, and also gained strokes on Nos. 6, 7 and 9 to match the course’s front-nine mark of 7-under 28. The 28 also is English’s career low for nine holes on tour.