by Open champion Xander Schauffele admitted he was “an idiot” for twice attempting a risky recovery shot that cost him a quadruple bogey in the Zozo Championship.
Schauffele, who also won the US PGA Championship this season, carded a first-round 73 at Narashino Country Club to move within 10 shots of the lead held by compatriot Taylor Moore.
After starting the day with eight straight pars, Schauffele’s tee shot on the par-four ninth ended in a seemingly unplayable lie at the base of the tree.
However, the world number two attempted to return to the fairway before having to admit defeat and take a penalty, eventually finding the green with his sixth shot and two putts for an eight.
“Overall, the stress was pretty low for most of the day,” Schauffele said after adding eight more pars and a solitary birdie on the back nine.
“85% of the day wasn’t very stressful. Number nine, it was an incredible place. I almost wanted to take a photo of it, how bad it was.
“The fact that I think I can do anything has definitely put me in a hole. I should have taken an unplayable, but I was an idiot and tried to hit him. Then I was stubborn, then tried to hit him again, then finally took an unplayable.
“I was going to hit him a third time too just because, but yeah, it was a bad spot.
“Definitely, I think having false confidence helps sometimes and in those moments it really doesn’t. So I’m definitely going to try to evaluate it a little better next time and really think about whether I can take it out or not.
Moore carded an eagle, six birdies and a bogey to lead the field of 78 players at seven under par, with fellow Americans Max Greyserman, Eric Cole and Colombian Nico Echavarria all at six under par.
Former world number one Justin Thomas carded a four-under-par 66, while defending champion Collin Morikawa returned a 69.
