Reno-Tahoe Open: Fallon's Smith struggles to 81

RENO - It wasn't the start Scott Smith wanted in his first professional tournament.

He crushed his drives, but the short game and putter couldn't find any rhythm.

Smith carded five bogeys and two double bogeys en route to 9-over, 81 in the first round of the Reno-Tahoe Open at Montreux Golf & Country Club on Thursday.

Smith struggled to find the green, as he hit only eight of 18 in regulation. His drive, however, averaged 305.4 yards.

"It was just a struggle," Smith said. "It's kind of funny, but I felt comfortable out there. I put myself in some tough spots all day."

Weather conditions put a different outlook on the course, as winds were calm as Nick O'Hern blitzed the field for a 7-under, 65 for the opening round lead. As the second round of players teed off after noon, the winds picked up making the course more difficult to navigate.

"You can tell from some of the scores this afternoon compared to this morning, the course was playing a little easier, which it usually does," Smith said. "The wind was up and the greens get firmer. I'm excited to go out in the morning and get things going."

Smith admitted he had a few butterflies at the first tee of his PGA Tour debut, but was able to put those behind as he started his round.

The University of Nevada grad opened play on the par 4, 413-yard No. 10 with a par. Smith blasted a 336-yard drive - the longest on No. 10 for the day - but came up short on his approach to the green. However, he chipped to within seven feet and saved par with a short putt.

"I wasn't too nervous," Smith said. "For the most part, I felt comfortable out there. I had a great fan following from Fallon and some people form Reno. It was a lot of fun."

But Smith's fortunes would change on the par 3, 171-yard No. 11 with a three-putt for bogey. The par 4 12th saw Smith's drive fly out of bounds for a one-stroke penalty.

His subsequent drive went into the rough, but Smith put his fourth shot on the green and two-putted for a double bogey. Just like that, he was sitting 3-over after three holes.

"I wasn't putting myself in good spots," Smith said. "I wasn't putting very well, but really it was some of the irons. My short game definitely wasn't sharp."

Smith again found trouble on the green as he three-putted No. 14 after reaching the green when his second shot rested less than 10 feet from the pin.

However, after Smith's rough start he settled down to card six consecutive pars.

His putting woes continued on the par 3, No. 3. He put his drive just short of the green, and chipped his approach to less than seven feet of the pin. But Smith missed his par putt leaving a 1-foot bogey putt to put him at 5-over.

On the par 4, No. 10, Smith's second shot fell short of the green leaving a short chip to save par. Smith put his ball 10 feet from the hole, but his putt rested less than 1 inch from the hole leaving Smith with another bogey.

Smith nearly birdied the par 5, No. 18 after another monster drive. He crushed a tee shot close to 400 yards, but fell short of the green once again on his approach. After his chip shot put him within 16 feet of the pin, Smith's ensuing putt rimmed out of the hole.

On the bright side for Smith, though, was his drives were long and, for the most part, accurate. He hit eight of 14 fairways in regulation.

"I hit well off the tee, but I got to go out and do the same thing tomorrow," Smith added.

Smith tees off Friday at 8:28 a.m.