Playing the Stadium Course, World No. 183 Joseph Bramlett spun a 7-under-par 35-30=65 in R1 of The American Express, currently T3 and three back of clubhouse leader Lee Hodges.
The Standford alum, who outflanked three bogeys with 10 birdies, including six in a row, landed 11 (of 14) fairways utilizing a backup driver. Asked afterwards, “Thankfully, I travel with a backup, but yeah, it’s the second time in six months I cracked a driver on Wednesday at like 2 p.m. after the equipment trucks leave.” For those playing the SC, he gained 1.638 strokes off-the-tee at last check, and 5.145 on approach, both of those No. 1-ranked, but lost 0.485 around and 0.033 with the flat stick. The 33-year-old, who arrived off a season-best T20 last week at the Sony (68-66-69-64), missed the cut in both prior appearances in 2020 & 2021, and now heads to La Quinta CC for R2. See link below to post-round comments.