Round 1: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

FORT WORTH, Texas — David Toms said he "screwed up" on the playoff hole to lose last week at THE PLAYERS Championship. But the confidence in his game never wavered. His game is on the upswing, and the latest example came Thursday in the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Toms carded a 9-under 62, just one shot shy of the course record. It’s the best round he has ever shot in this event, which spans 46 rounds and 13 years in his PGA TOUR career.

Toms

Oh, and it also gave him a share of the early first-round lead with Chez Reavie.

Confidence? Yes, Toms has it right now.

"But at the same time, I still need to put four rounds together," he said. "I was able to do that somewhat last week.

"I had times back in the early 2000s where I won by a bunch. You know, play with the lead a lot of times and was able to maintain it and increase that.

"Until I’m able to do that again, I will still have that doubt. But I do feel good about my game certainly. I will just keep plugging along, maybe get one here some time soon."

In shooting 62, Toms needed just 24 putts, making all 12 of his attempts inside 7 feet. Last week at TPC Sawgrass, he missed a par putt from 3-1/2 feet that would have extended the playoff with with K.J. Choi.

On Thursday, he was aggressive with his long-distance putts, seeing lines that required little break. He said many of his putts were uphill, allowing him to make bold strokes.

"It was one of those days today where the hole looked so big, and I putted extremely well," Toms said. "It’s the one thing I really haven’t been doing, so it was nice to see that.

"It’s just a good start. It helps me. This round certainly helps me get past what happened at the end (last week). I need to get off to a good start."

Toms managed his 62 despite hitting just six of 14 fairways in regulation. Instead of taking a conservative approach off the tee, he opted to stay aggressive and deal with the consequences.

At the 12th hole, he nailed his approach out of the rough to just outside three feet. At the 18th, he found himself under some trees with his tee shot but produced a "great shot" to 29 feet and made the putt. Then on his last hole, the ninth, he landed near the bunkers in the rough down the left fairway, hit his pitching wedge to 27 feet and made the putt.

"The rough is not real thick this year, although it’s flier rough," he said. "You have to judge it and just go from there."

To replay Toms’ round on ShotTracker, click here