Armed with a second-hand putter purchased from a thrift shop while having dinner last week in Korea, Australia’s Lucas Herbert waltzed his way to a two-shot lead and tied the course record with a bogey-free nine-under-par 62 in the opening round of the $2 million International Series Japan presented by Moutai.
The putter, called Code 01 Forged with an old Yes C-groove face, was smoking hot throughout the day, but especially in the first seven holes as he quickly joined morning leader, Shunya Takeyasu of Japan, at seven-under-par with six birdies and an eagle.
The eagle came on the par-five second hole, where Herbert smashed a 5-wood to 20 feet, and converted the first of his long putts for the day.
Takeyasu played in the morning groups and handled the windy conditions well in a bogey-free round of seven-under 64. Korea’s Younghan Song was in third place, aided by a hole-in-one on the sixth hole, as he closed with a 65.
Local Hero Shugo Imahira, who is trying to find his way back into the form that carried him to world No.30 in 2019, did his chances no harm with a first-round 66, which tied him for fourth place with compatriot Ren Yonezawa, Guatemala’s Jose Toledo, American LIV Golf star Cameron Tringale and Thailand’s Atiruj Winaicharoenchai.
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Pertamax 😮