Tony Finau and Cameron Champ chase Zurich Classic lead after stripe show

Tony Finau and Cameron Champ put on a serious driving display at TPC Louisiana and find themselves just one shot back after the opening round of the Zurich Classic.

The big-hitting duo shot a 9-under par opening round on Thursday in the fourball format, but currently share a tie for third with six other teams, including Australian pairing Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman.

Brice Garnett and Scott Stallings currently share first place alongside Viktor Hovland and Kristoffer Ventura, while defending champions Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer are three shots off the lead.

Finau and Champ, two of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, hit 13 drives over 315 yards during the first round and they will look to continue their form off the tee as they play foursomes on Friday, before playing another round of each format at the weekend, should they make the cut.

WATCH FINAU AND CHAMP'S IMPRESSIVE DRIVING DISPLAY:

13 drives of 315+ yards for @Cameron__Champ & @TonyFinauGolf.

Team #SendIt is living up to its name and one shot back @Zurich_Classic. pic.twitter.com/7nm4o5YUnX

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 23, 2021

Rising star Hovland teamed up with fellow Norwegian Ventura, who is ranked 248th in the world rankings, but both players were extremely impressive throughout Thursday's action.

"We basically had two birdie chances on every single hole and towards the middle to back end of the round, Kris's putter heated up," Hovland said. "It was cool to watch. We just played really solid golf."

Smith and Leishman, who many have tipped to win the Zurich Classic this week, used the fourball format to their advantage, with both players getting the other out of trouble, while Leishman praised his partner's ability on the greens.

"I had the pars covered on most holes and he had the birdies covered," Leishman said. "I was there on a couple holes when he made bogeys, and likewise, the holes I struggled on he was there. It was great to be playing with someone who's got a hot putter and putting himself in good positions on pretty much every hole."

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