There was a little bit of everything in relation to scores during the opening round in Bermuda. Who knows what you're going to get in the triangle.
The 2024 Butterfield Bermuda Championship kicked off Thursday at Port Royal Golf Course, and scores were all over the place. Some golfers managed to shoot in the mid-60s while about as many shot in the mid 70s.
On Friday and Saturday, some crazy wind and rain is expected on the small island nation in the Atlantic Ocean, so there's no telling what scores will look like come Sunday, but it should be fun to watch. Maybe not as fun, though, for those playing and trying to secure status for 2025.
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Here's what you need to know from the opening round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Justin Lower feeling at home
Justin Lower of the United States walkson the ninth green during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship 2024 at Port Royal Golf Course on November 14, 2024 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Justin Lower has finished in the top 20 all three starts he has made in Bermuda. Safe to say he feels comfort at Port Royal.
That was apparent Thursday, as he opened with a bogey-free 65 coming on the heels of a top-five finish in Mexico last week. And he did so while fighting off the chilly conditions early.
"The wind, I mean, it's difficult, it makes it difficult, kind of slows everyone down," Lower said. "Yeah, it's just sometimes it kind of lays down maybe 5 to 10 miles an hour and the next thing you know a minute later it's 25 to 30 and you don't really know when it's coming. The little rain showers we had pop up there made it seem even chillier than what it was. I can't believe I'm actually saying that in Bermuda. It wasn't exactly warm out there until the last nine holes I thought. But no, I'm proud of the round. Made some good par saves to kind of keep the round going and luckily finished strong."
Lower, who remains in search of his first victory, seems to be closing in on that milestone every time he tees it up. He doesn't want to get ahead of himself after just one round in Bermuda, however.
"I'm feeling very good after last week and a little determined after coming up a shot short," Lower said. "Just doing what I can."
Ain't no thing for Kevin Kisner
Kevin Kisner plays his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship 2024 at Port Royal Golf Course on November 14, 2024 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Kevin Kisner isn't throwing in the towel.
Sitting at 202nd in the FedEx Cup standings, the 40-year-old, four-time PGA Tour winner needs a miracle over the last two weeks of the season to retain his PGA Tour card. He got off to a great start Thursday, shooting 4-under 67 and at points held the solo lead in the morning.
This season has been a struggle, to put it lightly. Kisner had played 53 rounds before Thursday in 2024, but had signed for only 13 rounds in the 60s. He has missed the cut all but five out of 21 events and earned just $132,930 in official money. His best finish? A T-33 at the 3M Open in July.
He's off to a great start in Bermuda, but he's going to have to keep that up the next three days to keep his card for 2025.
Lessons learned for Hayden Springer
Hayden Springer prepares to play his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship 2024 at Port Royal Golf Course on November 14, 2024 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Hayden Springer entered the week in Bermuda at No. 125, the ultimate bubble boy. He left the golf course Thursday with a share of the first-round lead.
Springer matched Lower with a 6-under 65 that included an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole. Springer and his wife lost their daughter, Sage, to a rare genetic disorder a year ago Wednesday. Safe to say he had someone watching over him for his opening round Thursday.
"Yeah, it's nice to get off to a good start," Springer said. "I mean, that's where you want to be, you want to play well every day. I mean, I think I need it as much as anybody, so it's definitely nice to do that and hopefully it will continue all week."
Earlier this year, Springer shot 59 at the John Deere Classic. His game has been there this season, even if he hasn't been as consistent as he wants to be
This week, however, past results don't matter, and he's off to a brilliant start.
"Just trying to stay patient and not -- and really not think too much about it. There's so much golf left, so it's easy to kind of get ahead of yourself. That's really the main thing I kind of learned at John Deere."
Checking in on the 16-year-old
Miles Russell of the United States prepares to play his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship 2024 at Port Royal Golf Course on November 14, 2024 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Miles Russell, 16, made his second PGA Tour start Thursday, but he'll have to wait to finish his opening round.
Russell was on the 16th hole when the horn was sounded suspending play for the day due to darkness, and he was at 2 over. Russell started double bogey-bogey and had some birdies on his card but had too many blemishes.
He'll have to make some birdies Friday if he wants a shot at making his first PGA Tour cut.
Bubble boys
Joseph Bramlett plays his shot from the tenth tee during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship 2024 at Port Royal Golf Course on November 14, 2024 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Joseph Bramlett came into the Butterfield Bermuda at 146th in the FedEx Cup standings. After the first round, he's T-3 at 5 under and projected 126th.
Dylan Wu entered the week at 126th, the first player out, and he opened in 3 under and is projected 124th. Henrik Norlander, however, started the week at 122nd but dropped four spots and is projected the first player out. Daniel Berger was also No. 124 but dropped four spots after an opening 73.
It's early enough in the week that there's bound to be plenty of shuffling before Sunday, but every shot matters the next three rounds for those trying to keep their cards.