Old putter serves Palmer well

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Ryan Palmer was back in his comfort zone with his trusted old putter model in the first round of the Phoenix Open.

“I pulled it out of the garage and was putting in my living room, then went outside in the backyard on my putting green, and I knew it was time to bring it back out,” the three-time tour winner said.

Holing seven birdie putts from 10-15 feet, Palmer finished off a 7-under-par 64 at dusk to take the lead Thursday in the suspended first round.

Palmer switched back to the Odyssey putter after missing the cuts in his previous starts this year in the Sony Open and Humana Challenge.

“I used the exact same putter the last two years, and of course had two of the best years of my career,” he said. “But toward the end of the year last year, around the BMW, I just got frustrated with not making anything, so I thought I’d try something different, put a similar style head in play and actually had some success.

“But my first two weeks out here I could tell I wasn’t comfortable when I’d get over the short putts.”

Webb Simpson was a stroke back on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale.

“It’s one of those courses that just fits your eye well,” said Simpson, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 6.

The start of the round was delayed an hour because of frost, and play was suspended because of darkness at 6:05 p.m. with 42 players unable to finish. Last year, frost and frozen greens delayed play nine hours during the week, forcing a Monday finish.

Qatar Masters: At Doha, Qatar, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano birdied his last three holes for a 6-under 66 at the Qatar Masters, overcoming wind and blowing sand to lead John Daly by a shot after the first round of the European Tour event.

Daly (67) was followed by K.J. Choi (68) and Jason Day (68). Six players, including 1999 British Open champion Paul Lawrie and Nicolas Colsaerts, were three shots off the pace.

Australian Ladies Masters: At Gold Coast, Australia, Lee Bo-mee of South Korea shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the Australian LPGA and Ladies European Tour event.