Rickie Fowler: Masters hopeful takes first-round lead at Houston Open

  • Published
Rickie FowlerImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Fowler has won four PGA Tour titles, but is still searching for his first major

Houston Open first round

-8 Fowler (US); -7 S Kang (Kor); -6 S Cink (US), J Vegas (Ven), K Stanley (US); -5 V Taylor (US), K Bradley (US), J Rose (Eng), H Swafford (US), T Merritt (US), R Henley (US), T Hoge (US)

Selected others: -4 A Scott (Aus), A Sullivan (Eng); -3 J Spieth (US); -1 L Donald (Eng); E P Mickelson (US); +1 C Wood (Eng), A Johnston (Eng)

Rickie Fowler warmed up for next week's Masters by taking a one-shot lead after the first round of the Houston Open.

The American, 28, hit eight birdies in a bogey-free 64 to lead Sung Kang, with Stewart Cink, Jhonattan Vegas and Kyle Stanley another shot back on six under.

England's Justin Rose shot a five-under 67, with 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth two more shots adrift.

England's Luke Donald carded a one-under 71, while compatriots Chris Wood and Andrew Johnston are one over.

"They've done a great job here with conditions around the greens and making it as similar as possible to next week," said Fowler, who will be aiming to win his first major at Augusta.

Full Houston Open leaderboard

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.