Chris Stroud’s return to the PGA Tour went well enough to get him three shots under par in La Quinta, California.

Stroud shot a 69 at the host Stadium Course to finish the first round in a tie for 53rd at the Desert Classic. The tournament is played on three courses, with the Nicklaus Tournament Course and La Quinta Country Club being the other two.

Stroud’s fellow Port Neches-Groves graduate, Andrew Landry, is involved in a 22-way tie for 31st, just one stroke ahead. Phil Mickelson has taken early command of the tournament with a 12-under 60 on La Quinta, including a double eagle on par-5 No. 6.

Stroud last played in a PGA Tour event in November, when he withdrew after one round at the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico.

Stroud birdied his first two holes and the eighth to finish the front nine three-under and stayed consistent with two more birdies at Nos. 11 and 12. He bogeyed No. 13 and posted 5s at the par-4 No. 15 and 18, but birdied No. 16.

Seventeen players are tied at 53rd.

Landry played at Nicklaus and was one-over through No. 6, but he birdied par-5 holes at Nos. 7 and 11, par-4 Nos. 9 and 16 and par-3 No. 17.

Adam Long is second with 63, Curtis Luck third with 64 and Trey Mullinax, Adam Hadwin, Wyndham Clark and Martin Laird knotted at 65 each.

Round 2 will air on Golf Channel from 2-6 p.m. Friday.

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I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews