Wilson Out for Another First

If history has any bearing, this could be a big weekend for Mark Wilson.

The Wisconsin native shot an opening-round 64 to take the lead Thursday at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson, two shots ahead of Duffy Waldorf, Doug Barron, Gabriel Hjertstedt, Jerry Kelly and John Riegger.

Wilson’s eight-under-par round was highlighted by a 30 on the front nine after he began at No. 10.

He got rolling with an eagle on No. 2, a tricky par-five with a narrow fairway and an undulating green. Wilson made a 28-foot putt and then logged birdies on the fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth holes at par-72 Tucson National. A bogey at No. 18 was the only blemish on what he called one of the best rounds of his career.

“All of a sudden, it went in from everywhere,” Wilson said. “It was a tale of two nines. If I could have rolled in some birdie putts early and not made a silly bogey at 18, this could have been something real special. But I’m still happy with what it is.”

The Chrysler Classic has had a first-time champion 14 times, including five of the last six years. Wilson would be a perfect candidate to extend the streak.

He credited a coaching change last July for a late-season surge and his fast start at Tucson. He led the Texas Open late in the third round in September before finishing tied for third, one of his three top-10 finishes that month.

Another key, Wilson said, was conquering what he calls “the ego thing.” He is 5 feet 8 and 145 pounds, but Wilson often is tempted to pull out a three-wood when a second shot must carry 250 yards over water.

“The smart thing is to chip a seven-iron down there and leave it to good wedge yardage,” he said. “The ego gets in the way. I want to join those long hitters, but I think I’ve matured to where most of the time I make the right decision.”

Hjertstedt was one of Tucson’s first-time champions, winning in 1999 during his up-and-down career. His bogey-free 66 was a thrill, he said, after his struggles on the Nationwide Tour the last three years -- including only one top-10 finish last season.

“It’s difficult,” said Hjertstedt, born in Sweden and raised in Australia. “You’re up there on the PGA Tour and then you get back on the Nationwide where you haven’t played. It certainly humbles you quite a bit.”

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Lorena Ochoa shot an eight-under 64 to take a one-shot lead over Wendy Ward and Seon Hwa Lee after the first round of the LPGA’s Fields Open in Kapolei, Hawaii. Michelle Wie shot a 67.