Defending champion Shane Lowry, playing in the last grouping alongside Bubba Watson and Hideki Matsuyama, had a scrappy start to his campaign, three early dropped shots not what he was hoping for following his second-placed finish at the US Open.
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“This is one of the best rounds – one of the happiest two-unders I’ve ever shot for sure”.
McGirt, a first-time player in the Bridgestone Invitational, had the only bogey-free round of the day, which included three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front-9. Johnson says Smith loves golf, hit a few balls on the range at the Bridgestone Invitational.
The Australian, who played alongside compatriot Adam Scott, completed his day’s work with a superb seven-iron close to the flag at the long par-three 15th hole, made a hard two-metre par-saver at the 16th and then parred his way in for a 67.
A large group at 69 included reigning U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson.
The WGC-Bridgestone has a field of 61 players, with no halfway cut and no alternates for withdrawals.
“That would be pretty special company”, McGirt said of joining Woods, who has won 18 WGC events., while McGirt is playing in his first.
“If I can win this one it extends that lead from world No.1 to No.2, and that’s what I’m most concerned about is just really trying to extend that lead”.
Berger hit his opening tee shot and then immediately withdrew with a pre-existing shoulder injury. “He added a 23’4″ birdie roll at the par-4 sixth hole and splashed in another from the fringe (22’3”) at the par-4 13th hole to save par.
In total, he made over 136 feet of strokes with the putter – I say strokes because that includes when he used the putter from off the green that are not officially counted as putts.
World No. 2 Jordan Spieth, World No. 7 Rickie Fowler, Charley Hoffman and Anirban Lahiri carded 2-under-par 68s to tie for fifth.
Because of the West Virginia floods that led to the Greenbrier Classic being canceled next week, a spot in the British Open has been transferred to the leading player not already eligible at the Barracuda Championship.
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – Rory McIlroy shot 71 and is five shots off the lead held by Lucas Bjerregaard after the first round. The 18-year-old Canadian hit 16 greens and made nine birdies at the Columbia Edgewater course.
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Angela Stanford, Demi Runas and Mariajo Uribe each shot 67 to trail Henderson. The tournament uses a modified Stableford scoring system, with five points for an eagle, two points for a birdie and deductions of one point for a bogey and two points for a double bogey or worst.
