Cromwell, CT (Best E Casino) - Johnson Wagner, Brian Davis, Steve Lowery and Brad Adamonis each fired rounds of six-under 64 on Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the Travelers Championship.
Justin Rose led a seven-way tie at five-under 65 on a crowded leaderboard where 104 players broke par.
Vijay Singh (66), 1997 champion Stewart Cink (66), David Toms (67) and Stuart Appleby (68) were among the players under par and within five shots of the co- leaders. They were also among those who grinded their way through a tough U.S. Open last week.
Michael H. Thompson, who finished as the low amateur at Torrey Pines on Sunday, welcomed the wider fairways, slower greens and shorter rough he found at the TPC River Highlands on Thursday.
"It's something you would go out and play every day," said Thompson, who opened with a 65 and was one of the six players tied with Rose. "And that's what I like about it. It's a fun golf course."
Ken Duke, Lucas Glover, John Huston, Peter Karmis and Tom Pernice Jr. joined Rose and Thompson in share of fifth place at 65.
Kenny Perry, Fred Funk, Chris DiMarco, Kevin Stadler, Bubba Watson and 2000 champion Notah Begay III shared 12th place with Cink and Singh at 66, while Chad Campbell (67), Corey Pavin (68) and Ryan Moore (69) were among the other players who broke par.
Among the co-leaders, Lowery and Wagner both posted just one bogey in their round.
Lowery had seven birdies to go along with his bogey, including three in a row ending at the 14th. He skipped a U.S. Open qualifier to take some much needed time off last week.
"I think coming in rested is probably the biggest thing," said Lowery. "Regardless of the golf courses, when I'm tired I don't do as well, and when I'm rested I tend to play better. Hopefully I'll stay rested this week."
Wagner had five birdies and an eagle at the short par-four 15th, where he hit driver onto the green. The ball rolled within 18 inches of the hole, leaving Wagner with a near-miss at double-eagle.
"From the way the crowd reacted it looked like it really had a good chance, so it was fun," said Wagner.
Davis, who posted eight birdies and two bogeys for his 64, agreed with Thompson that it was a fun course to play. Even for a player who has battled back problems this season.
"You have to work the ball," he said. "It's not just a bomber's course -- you do have to work the ball off the tee and into the pin, some of the pin positions. So it's a fun course to play."
Adamonis played his final eight holes with just one par, making four birdies, an eagle and two bogeys during that stretch. He had seven birdies, an eagle and three bogeys overall.
Like Wagner, Adamonis eagled the short 15th after he knocked his drive to 10 feet. He heard afterwards that Wagner had beaten him by almost eight feet.
"That's pretty solid," said Wagner.
