Streb opens well in midst of tough stretch

Robert Streb found an accelerated path to the PGA Tour. After earning Web.com status for the first time in 2012 (he wasn't even fully exempt to start the year), Streb put together a string of high finishes that included a win at the Mylan Classic in September. Streb finished well within the top 25 on the money list and a PGA Tour card was his.

The good vibes continued early in his rookie PGA Tour campaign, as Streb notched top-20 finishes in three of his first seven PGA Tour starts.

But after a while, the grind of the PGA Tour caught up with him. Streb said Thursday that the week-in and week-out demands of the PGA Tour can take a while to adjust to, and his results showed it - six straight missed cuts in April and May, before he finally cashed a check with a T39 effort in Memphis two weeks ago.

Streb said he felt pretty good about his game coming into this week at TPC River Highlands, and his opening-round score backed up his sentiment, as Streb fired a 3-under 67 on Thursday morning that left him in a tie for 18th at day's end.

Streb steadily strung together pars for the first eight holes on Thursday before birdieing 9 and bogeying 10. He then caught fire with birdies on three of his next four holes, then parring out to finish up the solid round.

The Kansas State alum is among the early starters of the afternoon wave on Friday, getting his second round going at 12:10 p.m. If he can post another 67, or better, on Friday, he should be in good position heading into the weekend, as he attempts to notch his first career top-10 finish on the PGA Tour.