Las Vegas Invitational Golf : Grygiel, Azinger Share Lead With 64s in $1,150,000 Event

Jeff Grygiel shot a 30 on his back nine and tied Paul Azinger at 64 for the first-round lead Wednesday in the richest tournament on the PGA Tour.

Grygiel, who started from the 10th tee on the par-72 Spanish Trail course, had four consecutive birdies after the turn and caught Azinger with a birdie on his last hole.

Azinger played the par-5 holes at the Desert Inn five strokes under par, with three birdies and an eagle, and one-putted nine times in a bogey-free effort.

“I don’t know if it’s the hardest golf course, but it’s the hardest for me,” Azinger said, referring to the three desert resort courses used for the first three rounds of the Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational.

The five-day, 90-hole event offers a total purse of $1,150,000, with $207,000 to the winner.

Gary Koch was third after a 65 at the Las Vegas Country Club.

“The weather was so good there was no excuse to do anything but play well,” John Cook said of the sunny weather and gentle breezes.

Cook was tied at 66 with rookie Dave Rummells, Roger Maltbie, Jack Renner and Canadian Dan Halldorson.

Cook played at Desert Inn; Rummells, Renner and Halldorson were at Spanish Trail, and Maltbie was at the Las Vegas Country Club.