Faxon beats weather to lead

Brad Faxon has putted well for as long as he can remember. He doesn't know why or how. But if he tries to analyze his skill too much, he will mess it all up.

So he just putts.

Faxon made two 30-footers and four more from beyond 10 feet Thursday. He shot a 7-under 65 and was the clubhouse leader when heavy rain suspended the opening round of the Honda Classic.

``I try to putt like it's shooting baskets with your friends,'' Faxon said. ``I try to make it so easy and simple and thoughtless. ... I putted great. I had good feel around the greens. I saw the lines. But that's when I putt my best: when it's easy.

``I know there's no explanation for that or nothing that will sell a book, but I don't really worry about that.''

Faxon birdied four of his final five holes, getting off the TPC at Heron Bay just before play was suspended. Nearly 2 inches of rain had fallen when the first round was postponed Thursday afternoon.

The round will resume Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. EST. Second-round tee times were pushed back five hours, a move that guarantees the second round will not finish Friday and will continue Saturday.

Friday's forecast called for partly cloudy skies with a 20 percent chance of rain.

Skip Kendall, having teed off on the par-5 16th when play was stopped, was one shot behind Faxon and one stroke ahead of Fulton Allem, Per-Ulrik Johansson, Dudley Hart and Michael Allen.

Only 33 players in the 144-man field finished the opening round. That could benefit Faxon, especially if he keeps playing like he did Thursday.

``I know I'm going to be there,'' he said confidently. ``I hope my golf swing hangs in there and stands up, and if I putt like I did today, it will be nice.''

Faxon has three top-10 finishes this season. He tied for second at the Nissan Open and finished third at the Match Play Championship. He could have won both had it not been for a few missed putts.

Faxon blew a chance to extend his semifinal match against Kevin Sutherland with a three-putt from 15 feet.

He just missed it to the left and it rolled 3 feet by. After Sutherland missed his par, Faxon pulled his putt for a bogey, snatched up the ball and threw it toward his caddie.

A week earlier, he missed birdie putts of 8 and 12 feet down the stretch at the Nissan Open. He bent over and tugged at his hair as his 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th stopped a half-inch from falling.

Two frustrating finishes for one of the tour's top putters. He fared much better on the greens Thursday.

``It gets tiresome when people say you're lucky to be a good putter because I don't feel like I'm lucky to be a good putter,'' said Faxon, tied for 61st on the tour in putting. ``I feel like I work at putting to get better, and mystats have gotten better over the years.''

Divots

Ty Tryon is using the third of his seven sponsor's exemptions to play in the Honda Classic. His next stop will be the Bay Hill Invitational next week, followed by the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta the week before the Masters. ... Tryon has another endorsement. The 17-year-old has signed a multiyear deal with FootJoy to wear its golf shoes. Financial terms were not disclosed. Tryon already has an equipment deal with Callaway Golf (clubs, ball, glove) and a clothing deal with Mossimo and Target. ... Tim Petrovic made the second double eagle in tournament history when his second shot on the 534-yard, par-5 16th hole rolled into the cup. He hit a 4-iron from 220 yards out. It was the second double eagle on the PGA Tour this season. ... Garrett Willis withdrew afterposting a 77.

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