Brad Faxon, With a Couple of Assists, Leads by One in Bay Hill Tournament

Longshot Brad Faxon played a bogey-free round of five-under-par 66 Thursday and, with assists from his caddy and a house guest, took a one-shot lead in the first round of the $600,000 Bay Hill golf tournament.

Faxon was heading to the tee for his early-morning starting time when, he said, his caddy told him, “You’ve got 15 clubs in the bag.”

He checked and found he was, indeed, one over the legal limit. Had he teed off with the extra club, it could have led to a maximum four-shot penalty.

The other assist came from Steve Pate, a fellow pro and a guest this week at Faxon’s nearby home.

Pate had a share of the lead until he three-putted for a bogey on the 18th hole and finished at 67, tied with David Frost.

Tom Kite, Brad Bryant and Scott Simpson were at 68.