Sweden’s Carl Pettersson and American Jonathan Byrd each fired seven-under 66s on Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the season-opening US PGA Tournament of Champions.
Pettersson enjoyed a pair of runs with three birdies in a row, the third through fifth holes and again to begin the back nine, to pull level with Byrd, who holed out a wedge from the 10th fairway.
American Ben Crane stood third on 67, one stroke ahead of countrymen Jim Furyk, Charley Hoffman and Bill Haas.
PHOTO: AFP
Australian Stuart Appleby, a three-time winner of the event, was on 69 along with Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Americans Anthony Kim, Robert Garrigus, Steve Stricker and Matt Kuchar.
Australian Geoff Ogilvy, the two-time defending champion, withdrew early on Thursday after cutting his right index finger on coral during a Monday ocean swim and needing 12 stitches to seal the gash.
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Branden Grace of South Africa holed a nine-iron approach to the 18th hole to move to within a shot of the first-round lead on Thursday.
His eagle two lifted him to six-under 67 for the round, with leader Brandon Pieters’ early 66 holding up for the overall lead as play was called off with 24 players still on the course in gathering darkness at East London Golf Club.
He shared second with Jaco van Zyl, Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, Swede Fredrik Ohlsson and Britons Elliot Saltman and Miles Tunnicliff.
Defending champion Charl Schwartzel started superbly, turning in four-under 33, but then, after a birdie on 11 he made three bogeys on his way home at 13, 14 and 18. The damage was compensated somewhat by an eagle three on the 15th for a round of 69.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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