Quicken Loans National 2015: Leaderboard Scores and Highlights from Thursday

Retief Goosen and Ryo Ishikawa took advantage of favorable scoring conditions at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on Thursday to grab a share of the lead at eight under par following the first round of the 2015 Quicken Loans National.     

Justin Leonard, Ernie Els and Kevin Chappell are one shot off the pace after a trio of 64s on the par-71 Gainesville, Virginia, course. Tournament host Tiger Woods looked primed for another disastrous afternoon before battling back to post a solid 68, leaving him just five strokes behind the leaders.

Let's check out how the leaderboard is shaping up after the opening round before recapping the action from a day when going low was the name of the game.

Tournament Leaderboard

Day 1 Recap

Goosen showcased some vintage form on Thursday to surge into the lead. The 46-year-old South African has just one PGA Tour win over the past decade, the Transitions Championship in 2009, and only earned two top-10 finishes in his first 23 starts this season.

He certainly looked more like a contender with a bogey-free round to start his week. He carded four birdies on each side of the course, striking the ball with the confidence that earned him two major titles at his peak. Afterward, he talked about the ideal conditions, as noted Gary Van Sickle of Golf.com.

"The fairways are so good, even playing lift, clean and place you struggle to find a better lie," Goosen said. "The greens are fast and they're not too spinny despite being a little wet. The ball stops where it lands, which makes it easier to control."

Ishikawa also thrived on the receptive course. The promising Japanese player is still looking for his first win on the PGA Tour but showcased his upside as he rattled in six straight birdies at one point after starting on the back nine.

The highlight of his day came at No. 4, a par three where he didn't need to break out the putter, as the PGA Tour showcased:

Woods, who's won this event twice, started his day in nightmarish fashion with three bogeys over his first four holes after rain delayed his start by an hour and a half. Given his recent form, it looked like another round that was going to raise further questions about his ability to contend.

But then he finally showed some positive signs the rest of the way. He posted birdies on each of the par fives on the front half, which is one area of his game that must improve if he's going to start making his presence felt at majors again.

Woods then opened the back nine with four straight birdies to at least get within striking distance of the leaders after Day 1. Justin Ray of Golf Channel noted the numbers of his strong finish:

Among the other highlights from Day 1, one came courtesy of Rickie Fowler. The American, who finished at four under par, didn't want to leave Ishikawa alone in the ace club, as he ended his round on the ninth the best way possible, per the PGA Tour:

Finally, reigning champion Justin Rose set himself up for another run at the title with a five-under 66. He actually had eight birdies during the round, but three bogeys, including one on the 18th to finish his round, prevented him from sitting at the top with Goosen and Ishikawa.

Between the crowded leaderboard and a course that leaves the door open for low scores, all signs point to an entertaining event. The conditions might become more difficult moving forward with a dry forecast, according to the Weather Channel, but still be doable with consistent ball-striking.

The biggest story heading into Friday will undoubtedly be the play of Woods. His Thursday showing, especially off the tee, gave some rare reasons for optimism. Now the question is whether he can back it up with another strong effort and make a charge toward the top.

It's a quick turnaround as Woods heads back out with playing partners Bill Haas and Nick Watney at 8:10 a.m. ET for the second round on Friday.