Round 1: FedEx St. Jude Classic

Colt Knost was the only player without a bogey Thursday in Memphis, but he still trails leader David Mathis by one after a 66 that leaves him in a five-way tie for second.

Mathis, as mentioned earlier, made his first bogey on the penultimate hole but his 65 was still good enough to be the best number on the board in a difficult day of scoring at TPC Southwind, where only 31 players broke par.

“When you see 4 under is low after the morning, you know, you recognize that there’s something going on,” Mathis said. “Whether it be pin placements or firmness of the greens or tricky wind. So you just try to be patient. Like I said, I hit some really good shots early and then avoided the mistakes. Add that with making some putts for birdie and it turns out to be a solid day.”

Of course Mathis, who’s never held an overnight lead on the PGA TOUR, also knows there’s a long way to go.

“I’m just trying to keep poise about me,” he said. “Just take it for what it is, enjoy it, be thankful for a good round and try to reproduce it for the next three days.”

On a side note, Stuart Appleby, who shot 78, and Chris Stroud, who had an 80, both withdrew. Stroud cited a wrist injury, while Appleby did not give a reason.