Jesper's on fire! Parnevik leading Valero pack

Jesper Parnevik shot a career-best 9-under 61 on Thursday to take a four-stroke lead after the first round of the Valero Texas Open, overcoming an opening bogey to birdie eight of the next 11 holes.

To say the least, it's been a welcome change for Parnevik, who hasn't won a PGA title since 2001. The colorful one always, Parnevik has been a fan favorite, but his game has struggled immensely, as going into the Valero he wasn't even in the top 100 for money earned this season.

The 61 topped his previous PGA tour best of 62, set last year in a second-place finish in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. A low score wasn't on Parnevik's mind after the bogey start. His blast out of a greenside bunker left him 24 feet short, and he missed the par putt on his first hole. However, his putting is what has been the improvement thus far.

A flurry of putter changes the past week helped Parnevik return to the form he showed when he was winning regularly. He tried a belly putter last weekend before settling on a brand of putter Wednesday he's never seen.

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