RICKIE FOWLER TAKES TWO-SHOT LEAD IN AUSSIE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) -- Rickie Fowler had six birdies over his last eight holes en route to an 8-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Australian PGA Championship
The American golfer's round took some of the attention from Adam Scott's first tournament back in Australia as Masters champion. Scott, however, was sitting only two strokes back following a 65 after playing in the afternoon groups affected by gusty winds at Royal Pines which made low scoring more difficult.
The 33-year-old Scott was level with fellow Australians Matthew Ballard and David McKenzie.
Nathan Green shot 66 and was alone in fifth spot, a stroke better than Australian compatriot Jason Norris and South Korea's Kwon Sung-yeol, who shot 67s and were equal sixth. Richard Lee of Canada was in a large group tied for eighth with 68s.
Fowler started at the 10th and opened with five pars before making birdie on two of the next four holes before the turn.
"It was a good solid start," Fowler said. "A little bit slow on my front nine, but I just stayed patient and finally got a few things to go, made a couple of good up and downs."
Fowler said although the conditions were conducive to good scoring on Thursday morning, the situation could easily change. And it did.
"If the wind picks up this afternoon, like it started to pick up the last few holes, the course will dry out a bit and they'll play a little bit tougher, "Fowler said.
 "So tomorrow afternoon it's going to be a little bit different course than I saw this morning."
Scott is making his first tournament appearance back home since winning the Masters in April, the first Australian to do so.
He made par on his first five holes before notching three consecutive birdies.
An attempted eagle putt on the par-5 12th narrowly missed, but it was an eight-foot putt on the 18th for birdie that again got the home fans cheering.
"A little shaky start, scrambling, that settled me down into competition mode," Scott said. "Pleased to get that out of the way and put a good one on the board. Setting myself up for hopefully what's a good weekend."

MCNEILL LEADS WITH TWO HOLES STILL TO PLAY IN MCGLADREY CLASSIC FIRST ROUND

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

In the opening round of the The McGladrey Classic at Sea Island Golf Club, George McNeill held a one-shot lead with two holes still to complete when play was suspended due to darkness.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia -- Heavy fog allowed Brian Gay a quick nap, and he no longer felt so sluggish after travelling halfway around the world from Shanghai to Sea Island.

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Gay had enough energy Thursday to make eight birdies on his way to a 7-under 63, giving him a share of the lead with Briny Baird among early starters in The McGladrey Classic. The opening round could not be completed because of a fog delay lasting nearly two hours.
Once the sun burned off the fog, the Seaside course was a pushover with virtually no wind. George McNeill ran off five straight birdies and was 8 under with two holes remaining. Will MacKenzie reached 7 under through 16 holes until dropping three shots in two holes for a 66.
The morning fog off coastal waters could not have been better for Gay.
"I was super tired," he said.
Players were told the round would resume when the fog lifted. Gay didn't want to stand around on the range. He also wanted to stay loose. So he took a chance by going into the locker room at Sea Island, relaxed in a leather chair for a quick nap and then warmed up for the second time.
"I felt pretty good when I teed off," he said. "I felt like I had a lot more energy."
The McGladrey Classic is the third event in Gay's most unusual itinerary -- four US PGA Tour events in four weeks in four countries. He started two weeks ago at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia, and then flew eight hours to Shanghai for the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. 
He would not have played this week except that it's only about three hours from his home in Orlando, Florida, and he loves the Seaside course. And then he'll finish out the fall portion of the 2013-14 US PGA Tour season next week in Mexico.
Scott Piercy and Boo Weekley also were in China last week, and each opened with a 67.
No one was as thrilled with the start as Baird, who is returning from surgery on both shoulders. Piror to this fall, Baird last played a PGA TOUR event in May 2012 when he started feeling pain in his left shoulder, and then his right shoulder. He tried a cortisone shot and rehab before he realized surgery would be required. He had the operations only a month apart, and then tried to return too soon by playing Web.com Tour events.
Finally, he's healthy enough to swing a club and even lift his shoulders over his head. He would like to think he's strong enough to lift a trophy over his head, though it's something Baird has never experienced. This is 365th start on the US PGA Tour, and he still hasn't won.
It bothers him, though not as much as people might think.
"I'd probably rather be the guy that's won the most money and not won than the guy who has won the least amount and won once," Baird said. "When you hear that catch-phrase, that does drive you a little nuts that we're only out here playing for trophies. I kind of cringe at that because that's not true. Otherwise, we'd just be donating our money to charity and living in huts. So it's not entirely true."

One aspect about that is true -- Baird needs money to keep his full US PGA Tour card. He is on a major medical extension, meaning he needs $463,399 to reach a level that would allow him to keep his card the rest of the season.
Webb Simpson, who won in Las Vegas last month for his first win this season, was at 65 along with Kevin Kisner, Kevin Chappell and Seung-yul Noh.
Gay finished the HSBC Champions in time to get to the airport for a 6 p.m. flight home -- nearly 14 hours to Chicago, two more hours to Orlando, a short layover in between. He tried to relax Monday, but he has been getting up in the middle of the morning and figures he's a few days away from recovering from his jet lag.
There was nothing wrong with his game that a few long putts couldn't fix.
Gay usually has his caddie read the putts, but after he missed an 8-footer on the first hole, his caddie left that part up to him. Gay didn't use him the rest of the way, and he was helped by rolling in three putts from the 30-foot range.
"I wasn't feeling very good at all this morning," Gay said. "I've struggled the last few days sleeping and been really tired. But a nice day. Solid. Hit the ball nice, made a couple of long putts. Just a good day."
McNeill had a few fleeting thoughts of a 59 when he made his fifth straight birdie to get to 6-under with eight holes remaining. He missed an 8-foot birdie at No. 2, and when faced with a tough par-saving putt, he realized he should worry more about his next shot than his odds of breaking 60. He has to return Friday morning with 49 other players to finish off the round.

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SIDDIKUR SHARES LEAD ON 66 IN HERO INDIAN OPEN

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE ASIAN TOUR

Delhi: Siddikur of Bangladesh fired a flawless six-under-par 66 to share the opening round lead at the Hero Indian Open after adopting a more attacking style of play.
Rahil Gangjee of India saved par on the last and was among the leaders who included Mardan Mamat of Singapore, winner of the 2004 Indian Open, Asian Tour rookie Carlos Pigem of Spain and Thai duo Pariya Junhasavasdikul and Chapchai Nirat.
Shankar Das of India placed seventh on 67 while Jay Bayron of the Philippines, Shamim Khan and Unho Park of Australia were a further shot back in tied eighth at the US$1.25 million Asian Tour event staged at the Delhi Golf Club.
Siddikur traded his conservative approach with a more attacking flair after playing and learning from Major champions Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia a fortnight ago.
"They played very aggressively. Most players can hit the ball but not all of them can play like them. Since then, I've been trying to play more aggressively and the results seem to be showing," said Siddikur.
A victory this week for the slightly built Bangladeshi will sweeten his impressive track record at the Delhi Golf Club where he has six top-10 results including two runner-up finishes since 2011.
"I have good memories on this golf course. This is one of my favourite golf courses and I always love playing here. I like golf courses where you need to place your ball and I always do well here. I hope to keep it up," Siddikur added.
A return to the Hero Indian Open, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this week, brought out the best from Mardan, who won his first ever Asian Tour title at the 2004 Indian Open.
"During my pro-am on Wednesday, I saw my 2004 photo plastered on the wall at the hospitality tent. It was nice to see the photo among all the other winners of the Indian Open. That certainly gave me some motivation," smiled the 46-year-old Singaporean.
Asian Tour winner Gangjee, who started from the 10th tee, had to recover from a poor tee shot on the last with a 12-feet par save to emerge as the best Indian after day one.
"I kept it going, I didn't stop making birdies. I lost track of my score which is a good thing! Sometimes when you go low then it happens. I was aware of what I was doing but I just lost track of my score," said Gangjee.
The big-hitting Chapchai, who set a 72-hole world scoring record with a 32-under-par 256 total in India in 2009, was cruising on six-under before dropping a combined three shots on holes 14 and 15, which he swiftly erased with three closing birdies.
"I'm very hungry for a win. I really want to win because my game is in good shape. Mentally I'm strong as well so I think I have a good chance," said the three-time Asian Tour winner Chapchai. 

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 72. Yardage 6,983.

66 SIDDIKUR  (BAN), Rahil GANGJEE (IND), Mardan MAMAT (SIN), Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA), Chapchai NIRAT (THA), Carlos PIGEM (ESP).
67 Shankar DAS (IND).
68 Jay BAYRON (PHI), Shamim KHAN (IND), Unho PARK (AUS).
69 S S P CHOWRASIA (IND), Sam BRAZEL (AUS), Adam GROOM (AUS), Chiragh KUMAR (IND), Rashid KHAN (IND), KIM Gi-whan (KOR), BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR), Javi COLOMO (ESP), Angelo QUE (PHI), Matthew STIEGER (AUS), Sattaya SUPUPRAMAI (THA).
70 Sanjay KUMAR (IND), Kwanchai TANNIN (THA), Mohd ISLAM (IND), CHAN Yih-shin (TPE), Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND), Abhinav LOHAN (IND), LEE Sung (KOR), Atthaphon SRIBOONKAEW (THA), Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA), Anthony KANG (USA), Mithun PERERA (LKA), Raju ALI (IND), Kapil KUMAR (IND), Deepinder Singh KULLAR (IND).

FLOODING DELAY IN TURKEY - CASEY LEADS AFTER 14 HOLES

                                   Paul Casey in action in Turkey today (Getty Images(c)

FROM THE USPGA TOUR WEBSITE

ANTALAYA, Turkey (AP) -- Tiger Woods only had time for little more than half a round on the opening day of the weather-affected Turkish Airlines Open today, and he'll be playing catch-up to the leaders when play resumes.

Woods was among the majority of players who weren't able to complete their first round after the start was pushed back three hours because the greens had been flooded by a thunderstorm. 

When his round finally started, he did little to put himself in contention, sitting at 1 under after 10 holes following a bogey on No. 9. That left him well behind the leaders, with Paul Casey headlining a trio atop the leaderboard after moving to 7 under through 14 holes at the Colin Montgomerie-designed Maxx Royal course.

Ricardo Gonzalez and Thorbjorn Olesen were the clubhouse leaders after both shot a 6-under 66, with 15 players having completed their round before bad light halted play.

Organizers are planning on an early start Friday to make up for lost time, with Woods facing a 20-yard chip shot over a greenside bunker for his third shot on the 11th when play resumes.

"It just gets dark so quickly and it's like someone just turned off the light switch," Woods said. "The air now also is heavy with moisture so the ball is not going very far compared to when we were warming up on the range and early in the round. But towards the end we were hitting about a half a club short. I'm still working on getting a bit of the rust out of my game but then tomorrow is going to be a long day for all of us."

He struggled with his driver today at the penultimate European Tour event of the season and didn't hit a fairway until the 10th hole. Still, he started by making a four-foot birdie putt on the first hole and then made another birdie at the par-3 eighth.

His playing partner and Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson was at 4 under, while Montgomerie was at even par after 16 holes on the course he designed himself.

Despite his slow start, Woods said Montgomerie had done a nice job with the layout.

"It's a tricky golf course and it helps to have played it numerous times as it is one of those courses where you get a better feel for it the more you play it," Woods said. 

"However looking back on my 10 and a half holes, I probably left a little out there and I see that seven under par is leading at this stage, so the goal in the holes I have left in the morning is to pick up a few quick birdies."

Gonzalez had six birdies and an eagle mixed with two bogeys, while Olesen had eight birdies with two bogeys. Three players, incluing Pablo Larrazabal of Spain, were two shots back in the clubhouse.

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SCOTS' SCORES
Par 72 (35-37
69 Marc Warren
74 Paul Lawrie (36-38) 
Paul had birdies at the long fourth, short eighth and long 11th. bogeys at the short fifth, sixth, seventh, short 14th and 15th.

STILL TO FINISH
David Drysdale       Three under par after 11 holes
Craig Lee               Three under par after 14 holes
Stephen Gallacher  Three under par after 15 holes
Colin Montgomerie Level par after 16 holes.
Richie Ramsay        Level par after 14 holes
Scott Jamieson       Two over par after 16 holes.


REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS  
Paul Casey continued his mastery of Colin Montgomerie-designed golf courses at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Antalya, Turkey to fly into share of the seven under par lead before play was suspended for the day at the Turkish Airlines Open by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The Englishman’s last two European Tour victories  - the 2011 Volvo Golf Champions and this year’s Irish Open -  have come on Montgomerie courses, and the 36 year old is hoping to make it a hat-trick in Turkey after his flying start saw him compile an eagle, six birdies and a single dropped shot in 14 holes to join Darren Fichardt and Steve Webster in a share of the lead before play was called for the day.

“I seem to play very well around Monty’s golf courses,” smiled Casey. “I won in Bahrain a couple of years ago and then Carton House this year. I do enjoy his golf courses. I have no idea why, but maybe the fact that you can be incredibly aggressive does bode well for me. 

“I made a very aggressive start with eagle at the first hole and this is a golf course that seems to offer a lot of opportunities starting out. I probably aim for the stick probably too frequently, but you could get away with it today – if you have an opportunity to go at flag and a good yardage, you have to take it. 

"It was foot flat to the floor today and just fire at the pins, take advantage of the soft conditions we've got and see what happens.

“The field is exceptionally strong and with the layout of the golf course, and the way it is set up, I fully expect somebody is going to get to maybe 20 plus under par this week.”

With overnight thunderstorms lingering around the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, there was a three-hour morning delay to the first round of the Turkish Airlines Open, but once play got underway the players lit up the third event of The European Tour’s Final Series and the penultimate tournament in the 2013 Race to Dubai. 

Fichardt also managed to play 14 holes of his first round, birdieing half of them, while Webster reached a share of the lead in the space of 12 holes.

Ricardo Gonzalez and Thorbjørn Olesen were two of only 15 players to finish their first rounds, with the Argentinean and the Dane each signing for a pair of six under par 66s. 

Henrik Stenson, playing alongside World Number One Tiger Woods and US Open Champion Justin Rose, made a fine start, moving to four under through 11 holes to keep himself ahead of his nearest Race to Dubai Challengers in the field; Rose (one under through 11) and Ian Poulter (three under through 11).

While the birdies and eagles flew in all over the course, Woods made a more reserved start with two birdies and a single dropped shot in his first 11 holes, taking him to one under before the darkness descended on the Montgomerie Maxx and play was halted for the day due to bad light.  

Play will resume at 8am local time on Friday morning, with the players finishing the first round before beginning round two, with the tee-times the same as round one.

  EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

BEST SCORECARDS AT YESTERDAY'S NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE

CRAIBSTONE GOLF CENTRE PAR 69

OUT: 4-3-4-5-5-3-3-4-4: 35   IN: 3-4-3-4-4-4-4-4-4: 34 
Yardage 5870

ADAM DUNTON 66
OUT: 4-3-4-4-4-3-2-4-4: 32  IN: 3-4-4-4-4-4-4-3-4: 34

CRAIG LAWRIE 70
OUT: 5-2-5-4-5-3-3-4-4: 35  IN: 3-6-2-4-4-4-4-4-4: 35

KRIS NICOL 70
OUT: 4-3-4-4-5-3-4-4-3: 34  IN: 3-5-4-3-4-4-4-4-5: 36

JORDAN FINDLAY 70
OUT: 4-3-5-4-5-3-3-4-5: 36  IN: 3-4-3-4-4-4-3-5-4: 34

JOEL HOPWOOD 70
OUT: 4-4-5-5-5-3-3-4-4: 37  IN: 4-4-3-4-3-3-4-4-4: 33

JOHN DUFF 70
OUT: 4-3-5-5-5-3-3-4-3: 35  IN: 3-4-2-5-4-5-3-5-4: 35

SEAN LAWRIE 70
OUT: 4-4-3-4-5-3-3-4-5: 35  IN: 3-5-3-4-3-4-5-3-5: 35

LEE VANNET 71
OUT: 4-4-5-5-5-2-3-4-4: 36  IN: 2-5-4-5-4-4-3-4-4: 35

COLIN NELSON 71
OUT: 4-3-5-5-5-3-4-3-4: 36  IN: 4-4-4-5-4-4-3-3-4: 35

CRAIG DEMPSTER 71
OUT: 4-3-4-5-5-3-4-4-5: 37  IN: 2-5-3-5-4-4-4-4-3: 34

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AT
YESTERDAY'S NE ALLIANCE MEETING AT CRAIBSTONE GOLF CENTRE