Tewell & Murphy share first day lead

Doug Tewell, coming off a victory Monday in the PGA Seniors' Championship, shot a 7-under 65 on today for a share of the first-round lead in the Las Vegas Senior Classic.

"I was concerned about my intensity," said Tewell, the former TV analyst in his first full season on the senior tour. "It was tough to block out all the accolades and get focused."

Bob Murphy also opened with a 65 on the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin. Bruce Fleisher, a two-time winner this year who led the tour with seven victories last season, was a stroke back.

Bob Risch, Leonard Thompson and Larry Nelson shot 67s. Lee Trevino, the 1992 winner who at age 60 is seeking his first victory since the 1998 Southwestern Bell Dominion, topped an eight-player group at 68. Hale Irwin, the 1997 and 1998 winner, shot a 69.

Tewell, 50, a four-time PGA Tour winner who spent three years as a commentator for The Golf Channel, shot a 5-under 31 on the front nine. After a bogey on No. 11, he birdied the next three holes to reach 7-under.

"My confidence is bubbling over," Tewell said. "I'm trying to keep it inside and keep collected."

Tewell, who credited a recent lesson from tour player David Graham for his success on the greens, made an 18-foot birdie putt on No. 7 and 15-footers on Nos. 8 and 14.

"My putting killed me on the regular tour," Tewell said. "David gave me a lesson in Tampa, and it has made all the difference in the world. I'm a little more upright in my stance and my eyes are over the ball better. I'm seeing the line a lot better."

Murphy, 57, an 11-time winner on the senior tour, matched Tewell with eight birdies and a bogey.

"I had my knee operated on six weeks ago," Murphy said. "I can move fine to my left side. That's made all the difference."

Fleisher eagled the 560-yard, par-5 16th hole, hitting a 5-wood approach within 3 feet.

"The course is playing fast and the tees are up," said Fleisher, who birdied the three other par-5s.

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