Stephen Dodd plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the Hoag Classic on Friday at Newport Beach Country Club. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Bernhard Langer lines up his putt on the 18th green during the first round of the Hoag Classic on Friday at Newport Beach Country Club. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Darren Clarke looks on before playing his shot from the fairway on the 18th hole during the first round of the Hoag Classic on Friday at Newport Beach Country Club. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Ernie Els plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of the Hoag Classic on Friday at Newport Beach Country Club. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Billy Andrade and Cameron Beckman walk down from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jeff Maggert plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jim Furyk plays his putt shot on the 18th green during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jim Furyk reacts after his putt to make an eagle on the 18th green during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Scott McCarron plays his shot from the 16th tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Vijay Singh of Fiji plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jeff Sluman plays his shot from the fairway during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jim Furyk plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Robert Karlsson of Sweden plays his shot from the ninth tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jeff Maggert plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jeff Maggert plays a shot from a bunker on the 18th hole during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Dicky Pride plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
John Daly plays his shot from the 16th tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
John Daly watches Lee Janzen putt on the 15th green during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Chris DiMarco plays his shot from the second tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Alex Cejka of Germany reacts to his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Darren Clarke of the Bahamas plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Ernie Els of South Africa plays his shot from the fairway on the 18th hole during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Stephen Ames of Canada greets other golfers after finishing the 18th hole during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Vijay Singh of Fiji plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Y.E. Yang of South Korea plays his shot from the ninth tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Robert Karlsson of Sweden plays his shot from the fairway on the ninth hole during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Cameron Beckman plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
A general view as Jeff Maggert putts on the 18th green during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Doug Barron plays his shot from the first tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
David Duval plays his shot from the second tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Michael Allen plays his shot from the fairway on the ninth hole during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Alex Cejka of Germany reacts to his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jeff Maggert putts on the 18th green during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Paul Goydos plays his shot from the 16th tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Scott Verplank plays his shot from the first tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jay Haas plays his approach shot on the 18th hole during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
A general view as Stephen Leaney of Australia and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain play their shots on the 18th green during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Bernhard Langer of Germany plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Jim Furyk lines up his putt shot on the 18th green during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Retief Goosen of South Africa plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Bob Estes plays his shot from the fairway on the ninth hole during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Ernie Els of South Africa plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Rod Pampling of Australia plays his shot from the second tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Mike Weir of Canada plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Stephen Ames of Canada plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Billy Andrade plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland reacts to his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Vijay Singh of Fiji plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Cameron Beckman plays his shot from the third tee during the first round of the Hoag Classic on Friday at Newport Beach Country Club. Beckman shot a 7-under-par 64 for a one-shot lead. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Alex Cejka of Germany plays his shot from the third tee during round one of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on March 4, 2022 in Newport Beach, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
NEWPORT BEACH — The rain that was supposed to drench Newport Beach Country Club never materialized on Friday, except for a few morning drops, so the pros took aim at the flagsticks and turned the opening round of the Hoag Classic into a birdie-fest.
And, yes, a few eagles landed, too.
Cameron Beckman, who majored in Art at Texas Lutheran University, painted a masterpiece by shooting his lowest round on the 50-and-over PGA Tour Champions – a 7-under-par 64 – to seize a one-stroke lead on a crowded leaderboard that saw 20 players shoot 3-under or better.
Beckman’s last brush stroke was a curling, 8-foot eagle putt that vaulted him into the lead over Bernhard Langer, the PGA Tour Champions’ ageless wonder.
Beckman reached the par-5 18th hole with a second-shot 4-iron from 217 yards that landed near the front of the green and rolled up the slope toward the flagstick.
“The eagle on the last hole was great,” Beckman said afterward. “I had the perfect club, and I knew I wasn’t going to fly it all the way in there. It rolled out perfect.”
Langer, 64, had a good chance to tie Beckman on the finishing hole – and shoot his age, a rarity in golf – but he missed a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 18, settling for par and a 6-under 65. He’s tied for second with Stephen Dodd (65).
Three players are tied for fourth after carding 5-under 66s, including defending champion Ernie Els, who won the 2020 Hoag Classic but wasn’t able to defend the title last year after the tournament was canceled because of the pandemic.
Among the locals, Paul Goydos of Coto de Caza and Kevin Baker of Newport Beach finished at 1-over 72, tied for 52nd.
The day’s biggest news, however, was two-time Hoag Classic champion Fred Couples, a Corona del Mar resident and crowd favorite, withdrawing before the first round because of back issues that surfaced after playing in Thursday’s pro-am during cool and windy conditions. Couples also had to withdraw from this event in 2018 because of back problems that have periodically plagued him throughout his Hall of Fame career.
Most of the players showed up with their rain gear and umbrellas on Friday, but they were glad they didn’t have to use them.
“The conditions were much nicer than we had expected,” Langer said. “Initially, the forecast was pretty nasty with rain and wind, and we got sunshine and wind for the most part, so we’ll take that any day. It was still a little chilly and the wind picked up more so on the back nine, so it played a little harder.”
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Stronger winds are in the forecast for Saturday’s second round in the 54-hole event.
Beckman had six birdies (including the first three holes), one eagle and one bogey (on the par-3 13th) during his career-low round on the Champions Tour. He has one victory in 28 career Champions events – at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open last July in Endicott, N.Y. – to go along with three titles on the PGA Tour.
Langer, the 2008 Hoag Classic champion, had seven birdies and a clean scorecard until the par-4 16th, when he failed to get up and down from in front of the green and made bogey.
Langer won his record sixth Schwab Cup season-long series championship last year. In his past two events, he has a victory and a runner-up. The win in Florida two weeks ago was his 43rd Champions title – two shy of Hale Irwin’s tour record – and his runaway record 10th title since turning 60. He also has won at least one Champions title in 16 consecutive seasons, another record.
