Rahm leads in California

LOS ANGELES: Spain’s Jon Rahm fired a 10-under par 62 on Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead in the first round of the US PGA Tour CareerBuilder Challenge golf tournament in La Quinta, California.

Rahm, the highest-ranked player in the field at number three in the world, sizzled on the La Quinta Country Club course — one of three in use over the first three rounds — with eight birdies and an eagle.

He was one stroke in front of Americans Austin Cook, Jason Kokrak and Andrew Landry.It was a further stroke back to Brandon Harkins, Martin Piller, Beau Hossler and Aaron Wise.With back-to-back birdies to start, an eagle at the par-five fifth and birdies at six and seven Rahm was six-under through his first seven holes.

He couldn’t help but remember Canadian Adam Hadwin’s 59 on the La Quinta course last year.“Any time you have that going for you, you get thoughts come in your head, 60, maybe 59,” Rahm said. “I knew that if I kept playing good I was going to have more birdie opportunities, and I tried not to get ahead of myself.”Although he couldn’t break 60, Rahm was pleased with the lowest round of his career on the PGA Tour.