Heinen takes narrow opening advantage

All Mike Heinen wants is a chance on the PGA Tour. He made the most of one on Thursday.

Heinen fired an 8-under-par 63 at the TPC at Deere Run for a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the John Deere Classic.

A week after the British Open, most of the tour's top players are skipping this event. Heinen took advantage, collecting nine birdies and a bogey as he seeks his first win since claiming his lone PGA victory at the 1994 Houston Open.

"I hit the ball real well," the 35-year-old Louisiana native said. "I don't even know how many fairways and greens, but I hit a lot of them and just gave myself a lot of opportunities. I had a lot of 10-, 12-footers, too, and probably made most of them. ... It was just a real solid day. I kind of felt in control all day."

Fred Funk, at 32nd the highest-ranked player on the PGA money list in the field, shot a 64 for sole possession of second place.

Defending champion David Gossett, Robert Gamez and Tripp Isenhour are two shots back after opening-round 65s while 10 players are within three strokes of the lead, including Spike McRoy, who is coming off his first PGA victory at last week's B.C. Open.

Duffy Waldorf, who shared the lead after the first round of the British Open, also carded a 66.

Last year, Gossett received a sponsor's exemption at this event, then made a seven-foot par putt on the final hole to defeat Briny Baird by a stroke. He became the first player to win on a sponsor's exemption since Tiger Woods at the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational.

The highlight of Gossett's 2002 season was a tie for second at last month's Buick Classic.

Heinen did not need a sponsor's exemption to play here, but it has been a struggle for him in his recent years. He has split time this season between the PGA and Buy.com Tours.

"I don't feel like I am playing on the tour I need to be playing on, and a lot of my peers around me are telling me the same thing," he said. "I need to be on the PGA Tour and I feel that way, but that's what is so great about this sport. The only reason I am not on the PGA Tour is because I didn't play well. So I am the only one that can go and get it done."

He did it on Thursday, matching the best round of his career.

Heinen played the first five holes at 3-under, then pulled his tee shot off a tree at the 226-yard seventh hole. He did not need much time to recover, birdying the eighth hole and making five more on the back nine to match the round he recorded at the 1995 Buick Challenge.

"It has been so long since I have won, you can kind of call back on those memories, but sometimes there are a few spider webs in the way," Heinen said.

The par-71 TPC at Deere Run course measures 7,183 yards. The tournament moved here two years ago after a quarter century at Oakwood in Coal Valley.

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