Verplank (65) Shares Lead at Doral

Scott Verplank took a big step Thursday on the long road back from career-threatening elbow surgery with a superb putting exhibition that gave him a share of the first-round lead in the Doral-Ryder Open.

“It’s simple: I made it from everywhere,” Verplank said after using only 22 putts in an eight-birdie round of 65 on Doral’s Blue Monster course.

Verplank made putts of 20, 40 and 35 feet on three of the first four holes and one-putted eight times on that side, to go out in 31.

Verplank, the former NCAA and national amateur champion who sat out most of the 1992 season and all of ‘93, was tied at seven under with Davis Love III and Steve Lowery.

Tom Kite, Fulton Allem and Woody Austin were one stroke off the lead at 66. The group at 67 included Nick Faldo, Steve Elkington and David Duval. Greg Norman was another shot back at 68.