Four days after he shot a bounce-back 65 in the British Open's final round, fan favorite Rickie Fowler did that one shot better with Thursday's 7-under-par 64 in the 3M Open's first round in Blaine.
That tied him with former Minnesotan Troy Merritt and three-time PGA Tour winner Jhonattan Vegas, one shot ahead of Scott Stallings and Adam Schenk.
Hours after Fowler and Merritt finished their weather-delayed morning round, Vegas tied for the lead in Thursday's last light. He did so with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole after he hit his approach shot through the gathering darkness and either into or over a corporate tent behind the green.
Vegas said he and his caddie "messed up" the distance to the green trying to play fast on a second shot that could have sent up a tournament-leading eagle 3. Vegas, his caddie, playing partners, rules officials, spectators and a photographer all searched for the ball, which was eventually was found at the back of the tent.
He received a free drop from in front of the tenting and got up and down after 9 p.m.
"It was a little bit of a nightmare right at the end, especially at the end of a good round," he said.
Play was suspended because of darkness with 11 players still on the course.