Fresh off his $80,761 payday at the Farmers Insurance Open last week, Ted Potter wasted no time getting out of the blocks at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix, firing a 5-under-par 66 in Thursday's opening round at the TPC Scottsdale.

    It was the second best round for Ted since the wrap-around season began at the Safeway Open in September. In the Shriner's Children's Hospital event he posted a 6-under 65, but still missed the cut. He's sitting in a tie for sixth, just three strokes behind Matthew NeSmith and Mark Hubbard, who shot 8-under 63, one better than Nate Lashley and Sam Burns. Veteran Steve Stricker is alone in fifth at 6-under 65.

    Gator Billy Horschel, Xander Schauffele and Keegan Bradley are among those tied with Ted in sixth.

    Ted played the back nine in 2 under with birdies on 13, 15 and 17, getting his lone bogey on No. 18 when he drove it into the lake guarding the left side of the fairway. On 17, he got his first TV exposure in quite awhile as he canned a birdie putt of 32 feet. 

    On the front, Ted birdied No. 1 with a putt of 7 feet, 9 inches, and the par-3 fourth from 9 feet, 10 inches. He had a chance to get to 5 under on No. 5, but he missed the birdie putt of 7 feet, 6 inches. He then saved his par on No. 6, blasting out of a greenside bunker to within 21 inches of the hole.

    On No. 7, Ted saved par again when he two-putted from 62 feet, 11 inches, then coiled in a snake of 31 feet, 4 inches for his final birdie on No. 8.

    Gators: Horschel - 66, tied for 6th; Brian Gay, 72, tied for 86th; Camilo Villegas, 74. Seminoles: Brooks Koepka, 68, tied for 21st; Daniel Berger, 69, tied for 37th. 

       

    

      

    

 

 

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