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Knox opens with 65 to take early lead at Mayakoba Golf Classic

Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Russell Knox posted a 6-under 65 during a windy opening round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic to hold a one-shot edge at the conclusion of Thursday's action.

The Scot was in the afternoon wave at El Cameleon Golf Course and pulled ahead of a large group at 5-under with his seven-birdie round. Knox missed a short par putt on No. 2 (his 11th hole of the day) for the lone bogey on his scorecard.

Here's how the top of the leaderboard stands after Round 1:

Place Player To Par R1 Score
1 Russell Knox -6 65
T2 Joaquin Niemann -5 66
T2 Emiliano Grillo -5 66
T2 Tom Hoge -5 66
T5 Viktor Hovland -4 67
T5 Tony Finau -4 67
T5 Carlos Ortiz -4 67
T5 Brendon Todd -4 67
T5 Aaron Wise -4 67
T5 Nate Lashley -4 67
T5 Akshay Bhatia -4 67
T5 Michael Gligic -4 67

Joaquin Niemann was the first player to shoot 5-under and held a piece of the clubhouse lead for the majority of the day until Knox finished. The 22-year-old Chilean will donate all of his earnings this week to help his one-month-old cousin, who was born with a rare neurodegenerative disease, fight for his life.

Viktor Hovland and Tony Finau find themselves within striking distance early after 4-under rounds of 67. They are both looking to break the dreaded "Puerto Rico Open curse" and become the first player who has won the event to win a different tournament. Since its inception in 2008, Puerto Rico Open winners have never won anywhere else on the PGA Tour.

Notables Justin Thomas (1-over) and Brooks Koepka (even) got off to sluggish starts in Mexico.

Round 2 from Playa del Carmen begins at 7:10 a.m. ET on Friday.

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