Even Cameron Percy can barely believe it after the veteran Australian golfer earned a golden opportunity to win a maiden PGA Tour event in his 218th start.
After missing nine cuts this year and struggling with injury, Percy fired a brilliant 10-under-par 62 to snare the first-round lead at the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico.
He candidly admitted to not seeing such a spectacular round coming after amassing eight birdies and an eagle for a two-shot lead over American Michael Kims and Nate Lashley, Argentine Tano Goya and Colombian Camilo Villegas.
"I was lying in bed this morning. I'm like, oh, everything was hurting and I'm like, what am I doing? I'm 49 now, what am I doing here with all these young bucks and stuff," Percy said.
But Percy rode with his good fortune after surging to nine under through 13 holes as a magical round of 59 looked a distinct possibility.
"Everything went in for about an hour and a half. I didn't matter where I hit it and it went in, so that was fun," he said.
"I hit two beautiful shots on the first hole and two-putted, then made a few 10-footers and holed a little pitch shot from about 70 yards."
A three-putt par on the 14th stalled his momentum before a birdie at the last offered a fitting end to his sizzling day out.
Percy's dream afternoon marked an incredible turnaround after he'd missed nine cuts from 16 events in 2023, withdrew from another and finished tied for 43rd last start at the Sandersons Farm Championship in Mississippi.
Runner-up in a playoff to Jonathan Byrd at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open back in 2010, Percy plans on keeping the foot to the floor in pursuit of a fairytale breakthrough PGA Tour victory after 20 years of trying.
"I'm really lucky, I'm first off tomorrow," he said.
"It's been perfect every morning so I'm going to get the good greens and that sort of stuff so I've just got to take advantage of it."
Percy's flying start also has him projected to soar 76 spots up the FedExCup standings to 76th place.
US pair Matt Kuchar and Cameron Young are among the bigger names in a five-way tie for sixth at seven under, three strokes behind Percy.
Percy's fellow Australians Lucas Herbert and Harrison Endycott both carded 69s to share 42nd position.
