Twice US Open winner Retief Goosen changed putters to seize a two-shot lead after Thursday’s BMW International Open first round.
The 40-year-old South African’s other ally was Lady Luck as he composed an eight-under-par 64 to head second-placed Richard Finch of Britain, with a large group three shots off the pace on 67.
While Goosen took only 26 putts, he also needed a stroke of good fortune when his ball looked to be heading for a pond beside the 18th green.
However, it hit a television tower, enabling him to take a free drop. From there he pitched to 10 feet and holed out to complete a hat-trick of birdies.
“Putting was the key,” Goosen told reporters. “I hit the ball really well last week in the US Open but didn’t make anything on the greens.”
“Yesterday I was testing a new putter and it sort of felt good so I decided to give it a try. I haven’t changed putters for some time but this just has a different feel,” he said. “I did get a break on 18. I scuffed my shot and could easily have gone in the water and made a [bogey] six.”
Heavy rain interrupted play late in the morning and Finch, twice a European Tour winner, marred his round by three-putting on his return to the course.
There were nine players on 67, while world No. 5 Henrik Stenson, the highest-ranked competitor here, opened with a 68.
■WEGMANS LPGA
AFP, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
Germany’s Sandra Gal shot an eight-under 64 and for a one-stroke lead as the rain-soaked first round of the Wegmans LPGA was suspended due to darkness on Thursday.
South Korean Shin Jiyai is in second place at seven-under 65, while Becky Lucidi was on the course at six-under through 15 holes when play was halted.
■TRAVELERS PGA
AFP, CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT
The US’ Kenny Perry fired a nine-under 61 to seize the first-round lead at the PGA Travelers Championship on Thursday.
Perry flirted with the magical 59 score, missing long birdie putts on the last three holes. He did equal the course record at the TPC River Highlands, joining Kirk Triplett, Phil Mickelson, Scott Verplank and Brad Faxon.
Paul Goydos and Charles Warren shot 63 and are two shots adrift in second place.
Lucas Glover, who is fresh of his US Open championship, is tied for eighth.
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College basketballer Kaitlyn Chen (陳凱玲) has become the first player of Taiwanese descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, after being selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the third and final round of the league's draft yesterday. Chen, a point guard who played her first three seasons in college for Princeton University, transferred to the University of Connecticut (UConn) for her final season, which culminated in a national championship on April 6. While at Princeton, Chen was named the Ivy League tournament's most outstanding player three times from 2022 to last year. Prior to the draft, ESPN described Chen as a
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