Vegas puts Players behind him and soars to 64 at Innisbrook

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Jhonattan Vegas found the first formula for sticking his finish last week behind him. He opened with a 7-under 64 on Thursday to set the early pace at the Valspar Championship.

Dustin Johnson didn't want to forget his finish at The Players Championship, where he shot 29 on his final nine holes to tie the course record with a 63 and move into the top 10. Johnson was rarely out of position at Innisbrook and had a 67.

It felt like a fresh start for most everyone, especially those who caught on the wrong side of the weather at Sawgrass that led to a five-day tournament to get in 72 holes.

Vegas didn't make it that far. Despite two balls in the water on the island-green 17th, he came to the par-5 ninth hole right on the cut line, hitting his third shot from 25 yards away. And then he bladed a gap wedge into a bunker, made bogey and missed the cut.

The recovery process is underway.

“Absolutely great,” Vegas said. “Exactly what I needed after last week. Game was there. I took advantage of the great conditions this morning. Greens are a little softer, not much wind, absolutely a perfect day out here.”

Among early starters, Vegas had a one-shot lead over Danny Lee. Kramer Hickok and Doc Redman were at 66, while Johnson and Brooks Koepka were in a large group at 67.

Greyson Sigg had been poised to join Vegas in the early lead. He was bogey-free and 7 under through 17 holes until a bad lie in the fairway bunker required two shots to get out, he came up short of the green and took triple bogey.

The Copperhead course at Innisbrook has a reputation for being a sturdy course without gimmicks, having just enough water in the right places that force players to lay back with some of their tee shots and hit