NAPA, Calif. — Patton Kizzire hugged a tree on the way to the first tee Friday as part of a mental exercise, then patiently worked his way into Silverado to take the weekend lead in the first FedEx Cup Fall series.
Working with a new mental coach who got him a more relaxed approach and approach, Kizzire shot a 7-under 65 to gain a one-stroke advantage over David Lipsky at the Procore Championship.
Kizzire joked about some of the things his new mental coach made him do, like going barefoot and hugging trees.
“It was great to just get organized and try to play outside and not get out of control,” Kizzire said.
Kizzire had seven birdies, six on the back nine, as he sought his first victory on the PGA Tour since 2018.
“I didn’t have my best stuff today, especially off the tee or green, but I putted well again,” Kizzire said. “My patience in the mental game and my positioning saved me and allowed me to play really well.”
Kizzire had a total of 13-under 131 on the beautiful course in the heart of Napa Valley wine country.
Lipsky, the first-round leader, had a 67 that included eight birdies, an eagle, three bogeys and a double bogey.
Patrick Fishburn was 11 under after 65. He had six birdies and an eagle to overcome a bogey on his 17th hole.
Matt Kuchar and JJ Spaun were 10 under. The 46-year-old Kuchar, who caused controversy at the Wyndham Championship in August when he left the course due to darkness and returned the next day to complete his final round, had nine birdies and a bogey to tie. the best round of the day at 64. Spaun shot 65.
Defending champion Sahith Theegala scored a four off 66.
Kizzire started slowly and was spitting off the tee and his approach shot before warming up with six birdies on the back nine. He closed his afternoon with two long putts, one from 28 and the other from 13.
“I would get frustrated or talk about a bad shot or worry about, ‘Well, why can’t I hit it like I want to?'” Kizzire said. “I just chose not to do that. I wasn’t playing my best on the back nine, but I was taking advantage of every chance I got and making a couple of good putts.”
Lipsky was in good shape after making an eagle on No. 16. He hit a gap with his second shot that went past the flag, jumped and then went back to the hole.
After three consecutive birdies on the back nine put him atop the leaderboard at 14 under, Lipsky earned a penalty when his tee shot on No. 8 is out of bounds.
“A little bit of everything but I’m very happy,” Lipsky said. “My game plan was to stay aggressive and never back down. That’s what I did.”
Two-time tournament champion Max Homa did not qualify. President Cup International team captain Mike Weir, 2020 tournament champion Stewart Cink and Wyndham Clark are also out.
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