Sam Ryder shot a bogey-free, seven-under-par 65 to open the Sanderson Farms Championship on Thursday. He is part of a four-way tie for the lead at the Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi.
Eric Cole, Danny Walker and South African Garrick Higgo also made 65 after the first round.
Max Homa is part of a large tie for fifth after he opened with a five-under 67.
Amateur Michael La Sasso, the NCAA individual champion from Ole Miss, is tied for 13th at four-under 68, along with Australia's Harrison Endycott.
Endycott began his round on the back nine which he played in even par.
But the 29-year-old from Sydney came home with a flourish, making birdies on the first, fifth, seventh and eighth without any bogeys to rocket up the field.
Following the Ryder Cup last week, the PGA Tour resumed its FedEx Cup Fall series to determine the top 100 players who'll retain full tour cards for 2026.
While Endycott began the week in 237th, Walker (No.104) and Ryder (No.110) are among the players who are just outside the top 100.
"I'm very aware where I'm at. You know it all year," Ryder said. "You get a text every single week that tells you exactly where you are on FedEx. You can't hide from it."
The top 50 players at the end of last season are already locked in for all signature events in 2026. Those who finish between Nos.51-60 will qualify for the first two signature events of 2026.
There were two holes-in-one Thursday, both at the 183-yard fourth hole.
Matt Kuchar rolled one in during his four-under 68 round while Denmark's Niklas Norgaard got his on the way to shooting an even-par 72.
Cole overcame a bogey on the opening hole and a double bogey at No.16 by making 10 birdies, including six in his final eight holes. The up-and-down day was not unlike his year at large.
"I've had some good stuff in there for sure," Cole said of his season. "Also haven't played my best at times. So it's kind of been a little bit hit or miss."
Endycott apart, Min Woo Lee (No.57) and Brett Drewitt are the only other Australians competing this week.
Lee shot a two-under 70 for a tie of 54th, while Drewitt, from Taree, finished with a two-over 74.
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