Olazabal Sets Course Record With a 63, Leads by Four Shots

Despite gusts of more than 20 m.p.h., Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal shot a course-record, nine-under-par 63 Thursday to take a four-stroke lead after the opening round of the Freeport-McMoRan Golf Classic.

“I’m surprised,” Olazabal said. “I’ve played here twice before and never broke 70. I guess I was saving up.”

Olazabal, starting on the back nine, had birdies on his second, fourth, sixth and seventh holes.

“The turning point was on the 16th,” he said. “I pushed the shot to the right, close to a bush, then chipped it about 80 yards, then chipped it another 80 yards from there for a birdie. After that, I managed to keep the ball in play.”

Olazabal added five more birdies on the front nine to break the course record of 64 set by Joel Edwards in 1991.

“It was one of those days when everything goes nicely for you,” he said.

Sam Torrance, who also played early, is second with a 67.

“It’s a great course with demanding holes,” Torrance said. “The wind died down a touch and that helped.”

Defending champ Mike Standly shot a 68 to tie for third place with Joey Rassett.

Payne Stewart and Nick Faldo shot even-par 72s, David Frost finished at 74, Craig Stadler 76, and Jim Thorpe 79.