Two weeks off was just what Bob Murphy needed.
The relaxed Murphy fired a near-perfect, 8-under-par 64 Friday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Nationwide Championship senior tournament.Murphy, seeking his 12th senior tour victory, was as hot as the 90-degree temperature, carding eight birdies without a bogey over the 6,777-yard, par-72 Golf Club of Georgia Lakeside Course.
"It proves that two weeks off was the right thing to do for my brain," Murphy said.
Bob Charles was next at 66 followed by Graham Marsh at 67. Leading money-winner Hale Irwin and David Graham were another stroke back at 68 in the $1.3 million tournament with $195,000 going to the winner.
Defending champion Jim Colbert, with a double-bogey 7 on the 18th hole, was at 73.
"I took off two weeks and did nothing for five straight days but fish and relax," said Murphy, who shot an 81 on the final day of the Ameritech Senior Open on June 1, his last appearance before Friday.
The 54-year-old Murphy, 15th on the money list with $330,391, tied for 65th in that tournament and hadn't finished better than 10th since winning the Toshiba Classic on March 16.
The warm, humid weather also helped Murphy, who won this tournament two years ago and tied for seventh in 1996.
"When it's in the 90s and warm, I feel great," he said. "I like playing in warm weather. The cold weather just beats me up. When it's nice and hot and I'm sweating, I'm ready."
On Friday, he was.
Murphy, whose birdies ranged from 2 to 18 feet, opened with three straight on putts of 6, 18 and 3 feet, then got a 15-footer on No. 8.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder, who now makes his home in Boynton Beach, Fla., then made a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 12 before stringing together three in a row on Nos. 15-16-17 to take the lead away from Charles, who had finished about an hour earlier.
Charles had seven birdies and a lone bogey in his round.
"I played all last week (du Maurier Champions) in Canada and had seven birdies in four days and I had seven in one day today," he said.
"I felt good about my putting, making the ones you're supposed to make and one very long one," said Charles.
That long one was a 25-yarder from about five yards off the green in the fringe, he said. "I felt happier putting than chipping. I have better control of my putter."