Round 1: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

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Chez Reavie produced a career-low 62 in Thursday’s first round at Colonial.

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas — Last June, Chez Reavie underwent reconstructive surgery on his right knee, which required him to wear a cast for four months and prevented him from returning to the PGA TOUR until January.

After coming back from rehab, he’s struggled to get into contention, although he did finish tied for 11th at the Transitions Championship in March.

Thursday will likely be the day he turned the corner.

Reavie shot the lowest round of his career, an 8-under 62 that left him tied with David Toms for the early first-round lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. The 62 is just one stroke off the course record.

"It was great," Reavie said. "I had a lot of fun and made a lot of putts."

Indeed, he did. Reavie rolled in a putt from 38-1/2 feet for birdie at the fifth, and a 19-footer at the 14th. And inside of 10 feet, he made 16 of 17 attempts.

But putting isn’t the big issue with Reavie. It’s his knee. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in high school and never had it repaired. He also tore his meniscus but again, never took care of it.

Last year though, his knee swelled to the point where he went in for an MRI. He was told if he didn’t repair the knee, he would suffer more damage and potentially face the early onset of arthritis. He also was told he had a second tear in his meniscus.

So he took a major medical exemption, returned to competition this year and has been trying to get his game back in form while also making sure he suffers no complications with his knee.

"It feels great," he said. "It still swells up some, but it’s not from the golf, it’s from the walking. I wake up the next day and feel great. It’s much better than it was."

So was his golf on Thursday. Along with the putter, Reavie had his irons dialed in at Colonial, hitting 15 of 18 greens in regulation.

"I had a lot of wedges where I judged the wind right today," he said, "so I had several 3- and 5-foot putts for birdie."

To replay Reavie’s round on ShotTracker, click here