Akshay Bhatia carded 1-under 70 to be Tied-29th, but Sahith Theegala pulled out the night before the first day as his strained neck continued to affect his movements. The two Indian-Americans, as also Rai, played the Tour Championships last year and were in the Top-30 of the world
Bhatia had two birdies in the first three holes and a bogey-birdie on the fourth and fifth. Then came a hat-trick of bogeys from the seventh to the ninth as he turned in one-over 36. On the back nine, he had the 12th, 14th and 15th and bogeyed the 13th, 17th and 18th
The Indian-American Bhatia sits tied third alongside Rickie Fowler, Colin Morikawa and Sepp Straka. Bhatia, who was third at the PLAYERS this year, is two behind the leader, Keith Mitchell (61) and one behind Denny McCarthy (62)
The field is led by the AT&T Pebble Beach, PLAYERS and Masters champion and also the defending champion Rory McIlroy as nine of the Top-10 in the world teeing up at this week. McIlroy won this event as the Wells Fargo last year