Classic of New Orleans

Course record puts Martin top

ESPN staff

April 25, 2014

Ben Martin beat the previous course record at TPC Louisiana by two strokes © Getty Images

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Despite windy conditions, Ben Martin carded a course-record 62 at TPC Louisiana to shoot to the top of the Zurich Classic leaderboard.

Martin sits 10-under-par after his opening round, two shots clear of fellow American Andrew Svoboda, who went round in 64.

In his last nine outings, Martin has failed to make the cut on seven occasions, but his PGA Tour career-best round has put him in prime position ahead of round two.

"It was everything. The shots were going where I was looking and the putts were going in just like I was seeing them," Martin told the PGA Tour's official website.

"I hate the cliché, 'One shot at a time,' but when it gets windy like that, that's really what you have to focus on. We played in the wind every day last week, so I was probably a little bit used to it."

Peter Hansen sits third, three shots off the lead, following his round of 65 but Padraig Harrington and Scotland's Martin Laird are well off the pace; they both carded a 2-under 70.

England's Paul Casey sits a further shot back on 1-under, along with fellow Brit Justin Rose.

Zurich Classic Leaderboard