Charles Schwab Challenge 2020: Justin Rose, Harold Varner Tied for Round 1 Lead

Justin Rose and Harold Varner III are tied atop the Charles Schwab Challenge leaderboard after Thursday's first round at Colonial Golf Course in Fort Worth, Texas.

Both finished with a seven-under 63 for the round.

Rose's day began with three straight birdies, and he totaled seven birdies in the first round:

Varner also sunk seven birdies, including one to tie Rose on No. 18:

Rose is seeking his first PGA Tour victory of the season, and Varner has yet to win a Tour event since turning pro in 2012.

Rose and Varner will each need to keep in tip-top form to fend off the 13 players within two strokes of the lead.

Thursday's Leaderboard

T1. Justin Rose (-7)

T1. Harold Varner III (-7)

T3. Jhonattan Vegas (-6)

T3. Abraham Ancer (-6)

T3. Collin Morikawa (-6)

T3. Justin Thomas (-6)

T7. Brian Harman (-5)

T7. Bryson DeChambeau (-5)

T7. Gary Woodland (-5)

T7. Daniel Berger (-5)

T7. Adam Hadwin (-5)

T7. Tom Lehman (-5)

T7. Tyler Duncan (-5)

T7. Jordan Spieth (-5)

T7. Xander Schauffele (-5)

Full leaderboard available at PGATour.com

Bryson DeChambeau said he gained "about 20 pounds" during golf's hiatus:

DeChambeau tallied six birdies to offset a bogey at No. 4, while Jordan Spieth overcame a bogey at No. 1 to record five bogeys on the back nine:

Reigning FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy is tied for 39th at two-under alongside the likes of Brooks Koepka and Bubba Watson.

Kevin Na is the reigning Charles Schwab champion, but the 36-year-old seems well on his way to missing the cut at two-over in a tie for 110th.

Sung Kang is among golfers tied at 110th, but the 33-year-old's rough first 18 had a silver lining:

The tournament officially ended the PGA Tour's 91-day hiatus due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019-20 season was suspended days after Tyrell Hatton captured the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 8.

It was a fitting way to return, as the field is the strongest thus far this year:

The Charles Schwab Challenge was originally scheduled for May 21-24 but instead marks the beginning of a revised schedule to finish this season, including 13 Return to Golf tournaments narrowing down a 30-man field for September's TOUR Championship.