Brandt Snedeker fired an eight-under 63 that included a sizzling stretch of seven straight birdies on Thursday to grab a one-shot lead after the first round of the BMW Championship.
Snedeker defied gusty winds on the par-71 Conway Farms Golf Club course — hosting a PGA Tour event for the first time — and held a one-stroke lead over fellow American Zach Johnson.
Johnson, a two-time winner this year, had seven birdies in a flawless seven-under 64 and was two strokes in front of world No. 1 Tiger Woods, former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, Steve Stricker and Kevin Streelman.
Photo: Reuters
Reigning Masters champ Adam Scott of Australia posted a four-under 67 and shared seventh place with John Merrick, Ryan Moore and Nick Watney.
Snedeker opened on the back nine and his run of seven straight birdies began at hole 13.
“One of those days where everything seemed to go right in the middle of the round,” Snedeker said.
The American came into the penultimate event in the US tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs ranked ninth in the standings and already in line to become the first player to return to the Tour Championship the year after winning the playoffs crown and its US$10 million bonus.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who shot to the top of the playoff standings with his win at the Deutsche Bank Championship two weeks ago, carded a one-over 72.
Woods, who came into the week at second in the playoff race, said his score could have been better but for a trio of missed putts from within five feet — two of them leading to bogeys.
“I’m not exactly real happy,” said Woods, who had seven birdies to go with his two bogeys. “I played well and I just didn’t get much out of that round.”
Woods failed to birdie any of the three par-fives, although he finished on a good note with a long birdie putt at the par-four ninth, his final hole of the day.
“One of those days,” Woods said.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who won this title last year at Crooked Stick, struggled to a seven-over 78 and was tied for 66th place.
His card included a triple-bogey seven at the par-four first hole — his 10th hole of the day — and a double-bogey five at the par-three 11th.
McIlroy, who came into the tournament at 41st in the playoff standings, needs a big turnaround to reach the top 30 and advance to the Tour Championship.
KLM OPEN
AP, ZANDVOORT, Netherlands
Nearly two decades after winning this tournament for the first time, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain took the lead on the opening day of the KLM Open on Thursday, taking advantage of relatively benign conditions to shoot a six-under 64.
The 1994 champion, Jimenez had two bogeys and eight birdies, including holing a wedge from 40m at the 16th for birdie followed by another birdie on the 18th to give him the outright lead at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club.
Jimenez, the oldest player in the field at 49, said he would like to add another Spanish name to the trophy come tomorrow.
“Seve’s first win on the European Tour was here in 1976, and Jose Maria [Olazabal] also won here in 1989, so hopefully I can win here, too. That would be fantastic,” he said.
Robert Allenby and Gary Orr were among a group of six players one back on five under on the Dutch North Sea coast.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two