PGA Tour: Sahith Theegala leads weather-affected Phoenix Open

Theegala hit seven birdies and a bogey in a six-under-par 65 and leads by one from compatriot Andrew Novak after the first day at TPC Scottsdale.

Novak had only completed nine holes with around half of the field needing to complete their first rounds on Friday after a rain delay of more than three hours around lunchtime.

Theegala, who had played 14 holes before the break, said: "The weather was, it was not good, those last four holes felt great.

"I played great and that’s all I can do, really. I was surprised at how many fans were out here when it was raining sideways and blowing 20 [knots], and freezing. It was cool to see all the support and people chanting my name and all that, it's the best. 

"I got a good sense of that last year when I came back after the run I made the first year, so to be back is always great."

Lowry, 36, who is tied third with S H Kim, started with six birdies and a bogey in his first nine holes, adding one bogey on the way home to finish with a 67. He said the weather made conditions "really bad towards the end".

"We came back out, the wind was not blowing as strong but the ball was going nowhere, and it was cold and kind of tough," he said.

England's Matt Fitzpatrick dropped two late shots after the resumption to fall back to two-under-par, alongside Scotland's Martin Laird and one ahead of European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

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