Nick Taylor - Trying The PGA TOUR Out For Size

Taylor is in Cromwell, Conn., playing the Travelers Championship as an amateur on a sponsor's exemption he was awarded for being selected the 2010 NCAA Player of the Year and winner of the Ben Hogan Award in his final season at the University of Washington. This could have been his professional début but he's saving that for later this season.

Starting his round on the 10th hole of the 6,841-yard, par 70 River Highlands layout, Taylor birdied his eight and ninth holes to close his front side at 1-under. A pair of bogeys on his back nine left him at 1-over 71 and in a tie for 99th.

Australia's Mathew Goggin, Ireland's Padraig Harrington, Charlie Wi of Korea and Justin Rose of England are the co-leaders at 6-under 64 followed by seven players sharing fifth place at 65.

Top Canadian in the field this week is Weyburn, Saskatchewan's Graham DeLaet who carded an eagle and two birdies to finish even at 70. Oshawa, Ont.'s Derek Gillespie is 2-over at 72

Taylor is the only amateur in the field of 156 players where first prize in this $6 million championship is $1.08 million.

FIRST ROUND
T1 AUS - Mathew Goggin 64
T1 IRL - Padraig Harrington 64
T1 KOR - Charlie Wi 64
T1 ENG - Justin Rose 64
T5 USA - Bubba Watson 65
T5 USA - Corey Pavin 65
T5 USA - Ben Curtis 65
T5 USA - Kevin Sutherland 65
T5 FIJ - Vijay Singh 65
T5 AUS - Matt Jones 65
T5 AUS - Aron Price 65

T78 CAN - Graham DeLaet 70
T99 CAN - Nick Taylor (a) 71
T122 CAN - Derek Gillespie 72