US professional golfer David Mathis looks promising against a field of intimidating competitors, as he established a lead in the first round of the Travelers Championship.
While attention before the tournament had focused on major winners Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson and Keegan Bradley, Mathis's efforts paid off after he failed to make the cut at the Olympic Club for last week's
US Open.
Starting from the tenth hole, he opened the competition with a birdie and followed with a hole-in-one at the 158-yard 11th, as well as gaining another shot at the next.
Further birdies followed at the 14th and 15th to take the US player to six-under, where he finished his round after dropping shots at the 18 and eighth were cancelled out in the third and ninth.
Speaking to the PGA Tour website about his ace, Mathis said: "It was an awesome start. It kind of bounced and stumbled and went right in the hole."
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