(Reuters) - Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer, made a timely return to form with his putter as he charged into a one-shot lead in the opening round of the inaugural Barbasol Championship on Thursday in Auburn, Alabama.
On a hot and steamy day, the 27-year-old American piled up seven birdies in a flawless seven-under-par 64 to set the pace in the first PGA Tour event to be staged in the state since the 1990 PGA Championship at Shoal Creek in Birmingham.
While the game's leading players are competing this week in the third major of the year at the British Open in Scotland, Saunders led the way on home soil as he vied for title honors with the lesser lights on the U.