Paul Goydos leads Hoag, chases first Champions win since '17

Paul Goydos enjoyed something like a home game as he opened the Hoag Classic with a 9-under-par 62 to set the pace Friday at Newport Beach (Calif.) Country Club.

A native of nearby Long Beach, Goydos ripped off nine birdies without a bogey in the opening round and is in good position to make a run at his first PGA Tour Champions title since 2017.

"It's nice to play well at home. I mean, sleep in my own bed," said Goydos, 61. "My backyard's not quite this big. But yeah, I never really played well in my home -- L.A. Open or even Palm Springs or here, I've had some decent finishes here but nothing spectacular. Maybe it's the law of averages to have a good round at home."

Goydos holds a one-stroke lead over Zach Johnson and Brian Gay, while Sweden's Freddie Jacobson and New Zealand's Steven Alker are another shot back at 7-under 64.

Johnson, who turned 50 on Feb. 24, is enjoying his first season on the senior circuit. He won his PGA Tour Champions debut, the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, then tied for third last week at the Cologuard Classic.

"On the PGA Tour, I played out there obviously a number of years, so I don't -- much of our job is playing the hole backwards and knowing where you can't go," Johnson said. "The ultimate compliment for this (course), outside of the shape, which is pure, is it is so right in front of you. But it does have nuance. You've got to pay attention."

Johnson's early dominance will challenge Alker, who has been one of the tour's top players with 11 wins and two Charles Schwab Cup titles since he joined in late 2021.

Alker beat Irishman Padraig Harrington in a playoff on Sunday to win the Cologuard Classic and brought some of that good form to California.

"I think the energy was pretty good, so I just kept focusing on trying to make some birdies," Alker said. "The greens are soft so you could throw it at the pins. Yeah, I was pleased just to carry that form on."

Reigning champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain opened with a 1-under 70.

--Field Level Media