South Korea’s Noh Seung-yul fires ‘amazing’ 60 for three-shot lead at Byron Nelson

WASHINGTON – South Korea’s Noh Seung-yul enjoyed an “amazing” day as he charged to a three-shot lead over Australia’s Adam Scott and China’s Dou Zecheng in the first round of the Byron Nelson tournament on Thursday.

Noh, whose lone PGA Tour win came in 2014, needed only 21 putts at TPC Craig Ranch for an 11-under 60, sinking an eagle and nine birdies to tie the event’s 18-hole record and season’s low round.

Even a cracked driver failed to derail his quest to become the fourth South Korean winner at the event, as he earned his fourth career first-round lead/co-lead on the Tour.

“You know, just everything was going amazing,” said Noh, 31. “It’s going just amazing today.

“Off the tee, missed two drivers because of the crack of the driver head. Except the two shots off the tee through the green, everything was going perfectly. I’m really happy for my career low.”

Needing an eagle on the par-five 18th hole, Noh resisted the temptation to attack the hole where the green is guarded by a creek. He opted to lay up, which yielded his final birdie of the day.

“It’s like borderline. I’m just trying to make birdie, just forget about the eagle and 59,” he said.

His putter was also finding its range, where he ranked first in strokes gained: putting, gaining some 6.5 strokes over the field. He holed a 40-footer for birdie on 11th and saved par on 16th from 27 feet, which helped keep his card clean.

“I have no idea,” Noh replied, when asked if he had done anything different with his putting technique.

“After making long par putt on 16, I talked to James Hahn (playing partner), I said, ‘What’s going on’, and he said, ‘Don’t think about it, just go play’. No idea, just go make everything today.”

Playing on his adopted home course, Dou, who is a Dallas resident, birdied five of his last seven holes to also post his personal low round as he chases a first top-10 finish in his 45th Tour start.

The 26-year-old is in his second season on the Tour after regaining his status from the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022, but has struggled for much of the season, missing eight cuts from 17 starts.

Things began to look up for him despite opening with a bogey at TPC Craig Ranch, which is a short drive from his home.

“It’s comfortable playing here. Even on the driving range, it feels like you’re at home,” he said.

“I think that’s a big thing for me. It’s almost like the year I played on the China Tour. Every week it feels like homecoming.”

It was also a good day for South Korea’s four-time Tour winner Kim Si-woo, who snared seven birdies en route to a 65.

Former Byron Nelson champions Kang Sung-hoon and Bae Sang-moon, rookie Kim Seong-hyeon and Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama opened with 66s.

World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, carded a 64. PGA TOUR