3 takeaways from Day 1 at Colonial
Length isn't a difference-maker
The biggest hitters aren't at an advantage at Colonial Country Club, but they aren't necessarily at a disadvantage either. Jon Rahm is one of the longest on tour, and posted a 4-under-par 66 to sit in a tie for fourth. Graeme McDowell, who also sits in fourth place, is ranked 186th in driving distance, while co-leader J.T. Poston is ranked 160th in distance off the tee this season.
Holes 12, 13, 14 are brutal
The three-hole stretch is ranked first, third, and fourth in difficulty after the opening round. Pat Perez was 1-under par on the day heading into No. 13, but made his first of four straight bogeys to shoot 73.
| Stat | Hole 12 | Hole 13 | Hole 14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Avg. Score | 4.231 | 3.264 | 4.331 |
| Birdies | 14 | 13 | 6 |
| Pars | 71 | 68 | 73 |
| Bogeys | 31 | 35 | 38 |
| Doubles | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Jordan Spieth's putter
After changing putters and missing the cut last week, Spieth returned to the flatstick that won him two majors in 2015. The Texan's decision proved to be the right one, leading the field in putts per GIR on Thursday, and making critical par saves, like this one at No. 9: