Varner III sets ShotLink-era record with 32 straight pars to start WMPO

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Harold Varner III etched his name into an unusual chapter of the PGA Tour record book by keeping his scorecard clean at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

While there were birdies and bogeys aplenty during the opening round at TPC Scottsdale, Varner’s 71 remarkably included 18 straight pars. The streak continued Friday, as he went on to par each of the first 14 holes of his second round.

The run of 32 straight pars is the longest to open a tournament on the PGA Tour in the ShotLink era, surpassing K.J. Choi’s mark of 27 in a row at Colonial in 2006.

“When I got done (Thursday) I was like, ’18 is enough.’ I was hoping we would just blaze the trail today,” Varner said.…