MILWAUKEE (AP) -Even professional golfers get excited about a hole-in-one. Especially when the last guy to ace the hole was Tiger Woods.
Richard S. Johnson's hole-in-one on the 185-yard 14th Thursday helped him take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the U.S. Bank Championship. Woods made his during his professional debut in 1996.
``I had no idea. Wow!'' Johnson said. ``Yeah, it's always nice to follow him in something.''
The ace and a bunch of birdies helped him shoot a 7-under 63. His final birdie on the par-5 18th put him a shot ahead of Brenden and Deane Pappas to deny them a shot at golf history.
If Johnson had missed, the South African brothers would have been the first siblings to share the lead in a PGA event.
``It was a nice putt to roll in there,'' Johnson said of his stroke from just under 10 feet. ``It probably killed the record for the Pappas brothers.''
When Johnson asked if it would have been a first and was told yes, he said, ``Sorry.''
Robert Garrigus, Dean Wilson and Patrick Sheehan were another shot behind the Pappas brothers, while defending champion Joe Ogilvie and Jesper Parnevik were in a group of 10 tied at 66.
Kenny Perry, the 2003 champion, shot 67.
Nobody was happier to be playing than Perry, who could finally get away from the drumbeat of criticism that has come his way because he decided to play in this tournament instead of the British Open.
``It's nice to get back in my office. It's nice to get back where I don't have to listen to all that baloney,'' said Perry, who has won three of the last five tournaments he started including last week's John Deere Classic.
When Deane Pappas vaulted to the top of the leaderboard first because he teed off with the first group of the day, Brenden was energized to catch him.
``I spent the whole round watching him climb the leaderboard and I kind of chased him up there,'' Brenden said. ``It was a rush of adrenaline to see my brother play so well. It was really exciting.
``I figured I needed a few birdies to keep ahead of him.''
Johnson had two birdies before making a perfect stroke on the 14th hole.
``I drawed a 7-iron straight up in the wind. It was one of those that looked perfect but you never think it's going to go in when it's this windy,'' he said.
Deane Pappas, who had to win a playoff in a Monday qualifier to get into the tournament, was making only his second PGA Tour start this season. He birdied the first two holes from 10 feet to get off to a fast start that gave him some needed confidence. He has been struggling for several years and has lost Tour status.
His most impressive birdie came on the par-4 13th after a bad drive off the fairway. He made three when he sank a long chip of about 76 feet.
``I thought I hit it too hard but the hole just got in the way,'' he said.
Brenden said he was as happy about his brother's success as his own.
``We pull for each other in a big way. It's easy to love my brother. We laugh more often than we cry,'' he said.
Although Brenden regained his Tour card this year through qualifying, Deane depends on exemptions and getting in through Monday qualifiers. Despite his lack of success recently, he feels he can still compete.
``I know I can play here with these guys. I know I can be competitive. I hope I can keep it going this week,'' Deane said.
