Indian American Akshay Bhatia one round away from Augusta berth, seeks second PGA Tour
Bhatia was at 15-under 201. After McCarthy, the next closest player to the lead was Brendon Todd, who shot 70 and was seven shots behind.
Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri struggled on the greens at the Colonial and was left way behind with a six-over 76 at the Dean and Deluca Invitational here.
The 29-year-old Indian ace had seven bogeys, four of them in succession from fifth to the eighth, and had just one birdie in the entire day which puts him in danger of missing his third cut on the trot.
He will now need a superlative second round to make the cut, which looks likely at two-over.
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Three fairly lesser known names, Kelly Kraft, Derek Fathauer and PGA TOUR rookie J.T. Poston held the first round lead at five-under 66, while young John Rahm, surely a big star in the making is right behind in the group at 66. Scott Brown and Graeme McDowell also 66 each.
Rahm, who has been a regular at the Colonial last two years, but without playing — he was there to receive the Ben Hogan Award for the top college golfer — showed that he has Two-time Colonial champs Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson both birdied their last three holes for 67s.
He also led 2016 winner Jordan Spieth, whose even-par round included six birdies.
The 22-year-old Rahm, the winner at Torrey Pines in January, had only one bogey while playing with Masters champion Garcia, the fellow Spaniard who won in his first Colonial appearance in 2001.
Only 33 of the 121 players finished the first round under par.
Spieth, coming off missed cuts the past two weeks, was tied for 34th his six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
He was even par after birdies on his last two holes.
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