Baddeley tied third in Puerto Rico

Aaron Baddeley has fired a six-under-par 66 to be tied third after the first round of the Puerto Rico Open.

Aaron Baddeley, of Australia

Australia's Aaron Baddeley has an outside chance at the Texas Open after a brilliant third round. (AAP)

Australia's Aaron Baddeley is two shots off the pace after the first round of the US PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open.

Baddeley shot a six-under-par 66 to tied third behind leader and local favourite Rafael Compos.

Baddeley started the round slowly, opening with bogeys at the first and fourth holes, but sandwiched birdies in between at the second and third.

He then birdied the par-five fifth and the par-three eighth to turn in two-under.

The back nine was where Baddeley really shone.

The 35-year-old holed out a chip from the fairway on the par-five 15th for eagle, before making birdies at 16 and 17.

"I played really nice today. I felt like I only hit two poor shots," Baddeley said.

"It's not easy in this wind. You just have to be patient out here and to have a fast finish like that is pretty exciting."

Compos had a bogey-free 64, making four birdies on each nine.

And in doing so Compos bagged himself a slice of history as the first Puerto Rican to lead a PGA Tour event since the 1979 Tallahassee Open, when Chi Chi Rodriguez was tied for the 54-hole lead and went on to win his eighth and final title.

Compos is acutely aware of the pressure on his shoulders to deliver success and won't let himself get distracted.

"I'm not turning my cell-phone on today," Compos said.

"I really don't want to look at my cell-phone. I told my caddie, 'We played good today, but I don't want to put any more pressure on me than I already have.' I want to perform good in front of the home crowd."

Compos leads by a shot from American George McNeill, who set the course alight with six birdies on his front nine, before finishing at seven-under.

Tied with Baddeley in third are defending champion Alex Cejka of Germany and Americans Frank Lickliter and Will Mackenzie.

Rod Pampling heads the remaining Australians at three-under along with Cameron Percy, while Jarrod Lyle shot a 71.

Rhein Gibson and Cameron Smith are even with the card, while Greg Chalmers (two-over), Robert Allenby (three-over) and Mark Hensby (four-over) are struggling.


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Source: AAP



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