Perez powers into lead

American Pat Perez shot a blistering 12-under-par 60 to lead after the first round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in California.

Perez’s bogey-free round came at the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West and was the best opening round at the event since David Edwards shot a 61 in 1987.

The scintillating performance was also at the same course that David Duval shot 59 at in 1999 and of the 20 rounds of 60 or better in PGA Tour history, three have come at this venue.

Amazingly, Perez did not get much sleep in preparation for his opening round due to a stomach upset just hours before his tee time.

“I didn’t think it was going to be a special day,” he admitted. “I got kind of sick last night on food. I ate something bad and was up at 4.30am and tried to go back to sleep and only slept 20 minutes.”

Perez had a chance at the elusive 59 but missed birdie opportunities at two par-fives.

On the 14th – his fifth hole – he missed an eight-foot putt and then was off target with a 12-footer on the next hole.