Friday, September 25, 2015

Lanarkshire teams for Sunday



Lanarkshire A   v   Dumbarton  A    
 at Drumpellier GC
Sunday,  September  27                         

     Steven Rennie      Drumpellier                   

.  Kenny Gallacher  East Kilbride        

   Dominic Dougan  Airdrie                  

.  Robbie Main        Airdrie                  

   Andrew Steven     Easter Moffat       

   Mark O’Donnell   Hamilton               

   John Woodhouse  East  Kilbride 

.  Graham Rodger    Cambuslang  



Lanarkhire Youth Team    v   Dumbarton Youths    
at Clydebank and District GC
10-30 for 11am     Sunday September  27

1 Callum Connacher    Wishaw

. Fraser Kane               Kirkhill

. Mitchell Ronald         East Kilbride

. Kieran McVicar         East Kilbride

  David Fair                  Strathaven

. Lewis Irvine              Kirkhill

  Martin Scott              Hamilton

  Dylan Burt                 Bellshill


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Lancashire and Hampshire take first-day  

honours at men's county championship
 
Lancashire and Hampshire took the honours on the first day of the Men’s County Championship at Wychwood Park in Cheshire. 
Both teams got off to a fast start, winning their foursomes 3-0, and Hampshire went on to complete a comfortable 6½-2½ scoreline against Somerset. 
But Lancashire had to survive a late scare before defeating Lincolnshire 5½-3½. They had romped through the foursomes, winning the first two matches by the margins of 6 and 4, and 7 and 6, before taking the third point on the 18th. 
But the Northerners lost three of the first four singles and were all square in the final two games as the players made their way up the 18th. 
However, Lincolnshire’s hopes of a dramatic comeback were dashed when Matt Haynes pushed his approach to the last and his ball was lost in bushes close to the green. 
Behind him, the final match was halved in par by Lancashire’s Sean Towndrow – an England international – and Lincolnshire’s Sam Whittaker. 
“It was a bit of a fright,” said Lancashire captain Paul Williams. 
“But this afternoon was exactly what we expected, Lincolnshire are here for a reason and we knew they would be a strong team. They played very well and all credit to them really, because they got a good thumping this morning.”
This was Lincolnshire’s first defeat of the season after completing a winning treble: topping the Anglian League, winning the Eastern Counties foursomes and securing their place at this weekend’s county finals.
Lincolnshire captain Steve Brattan commented: “It was close, but very, very disappointing. We still have high hopes but you really do need to win your first game.” 
“It was deflating that we got off to such a bad start, we really lost the match on the first three or four holes of the foursomes. The back pair really got into the game but they just couldn’t get that point, or half point.”
Hampshire are making their fifth appearance at county finals in nine years – and aiming for their first win since 1996, when Justin Rose was in their team. 
They started their campaign in style, with three comfortable wins in the foursomes and another 3½ points from the singles. But Somerset pushed them hard in the afternoon: “They showed us how good they are,” said Hampshire captain Steve Williams. “We had won one match and were up in another – but down in the other four. But, once we got that second point a couple of others started fightbacks.”
One of the highlights of the day was provided by Hampshire’s Tom Robson (image © Leaderboard Photography), who holed a 120-yard wedge shot for an eagle two on the fourth. He was five or six under par for his round, but Somerset’s Phil White was also on top form and the match went to the 18th before Robson triumphed. 
Somerset captain Justin Lane counted the cost of the foursomes: “They were really dreadful. We had a good fightback in the afternoon, but not good enough, 
“Hampshire played very steadily all day. I didn’t really see any bad golf played, but it didn’t go our way.” 
Somerset last played at county finals in 2010 when they missed out on the title on countback.
Tomorrow Lancashire play Somerset and Hampshire play Lincolnshire. 

Click here for full scores



Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer
England Golf
pr@englandgolf.org
07825 752 193

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                           Bradley Neil .. bound for Spain
Neil and Stewart only Scots to survive Q 

School Stage 1 at Collingtree Park

Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil and Michael Stewart from Troon were the only Scots to survive the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 Section B eliminator at Collingtree Park Golf Club, Northampton today.
Neil finished second of the top 23 and ties who advanced to Stage 2 at four Spanish venues next month.
Bradley shot 70, 71, 67 and 70 for a 10-under-par total of 278, a shot behind South African Darryn Lloyd who had scores of 73, 70, 67 and 67.
Ryan O'Neill from England finished third on 279 with 71, 77, 66 and 65.
Stewart finished joint 18th on 286, made up of rounds of 73, 72 72 and 69.
Scottish professional champion and Tartan Tour Order of Merit winner Chris Kelly and Kris Nicol (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) made the final day's play but missed out in joint 42nd and 54th places respectively.
Kelly shot 73, 73, 73 and 75 for 294; Nicol 74, 76, 70 and 80 for 300.  
Scots who missed the third round cut at 223 were Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) (78-72-75 for 225), Joel Hendry (formerly of Elgin) (74-79-75 for 228), North Berwick amateur Grant Forrest (78-76-74 for 228) and Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie GC) (71-73-84 for 228).

Neil and Stewart only Scots to survive Q 

School Stage 1 at Collingtree Park

Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil and Michael Stewart from Troon were the only Scots to survive the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 Section B eliminator at Collingtree Park Golf Club, Northampton today.
Neil finished second of the top 23 and ties who advanced to Stage 2 at four Spanish venues next month.
Bradley shot 71, 77, 66 and 65 for a 10-under-par total of 278, a shot behind South African Darryn Lloyd who had scored of 73, 70, 67 and 67.
Stewart finished joint 18th on 286, made up of rounds of 73, 72 72 and 69.
Scottish professional champion and Tartan Tour Order of Merit winner Chris Kelly and Kris Nicol (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) made the final day's play but missed out in joint 42nd and 54th places respectively.
Kelly shot 73, 763, 73 and 75 for 294; Nicol 74, 76, 70 and 80 for 300.  
Scots who missed the third round cut at 223 were Gavin Hay (Nairn Dunbar) 225, Joel Hendry (formerly of Elgin) 228, North Berwick amateur Grant Forrest 228 and Jordan Findlay (Paul Lawrie GC), also 228.

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ENGLAND GOLF NEWS RELEASE


England U16s ready to take on Scotland at 

Marriott Dalmahoy this weekend

A team of 10 has been selected to play for England against Scotland at Marriott Dalmahoy, Edinburgh in this weekend’s U16 boys’ international. 
The team includes three members of the side which defeated Wales 11-9 in the first match of the series: Angus Flanagan of Surrey, Harry Goddard of Hertfordshire and Luke Kelly of Lancashire.
They are joined by Jack Ainscough of Durham, Jake Benson of Nottinghamshire, Toby Briggs of Norfolk, Barclay Brown of Yorkshire, Alex Fitzpatrick of Yorkshire, Ben Jones of Northamptonshire and Charlie Strickland of Sussex.
There will be singles and foursomes tomorrow (Saturday), followed by another singles session on Sunday.
The same team, with the exception of Flanagan and Kelly, will play Ireland in the final match of the series at Templepatrick on the weekend of October  10 and 11. The match will consist of foursomes and better-ball on the first day and a singles session on the second
The England players are:
Jack Ainscough, 16, (Hartlepool) had two top ten finishes in the English U16 boys’ championship for the McGregor Trophy and in the Scottish U16s. He reached the last 32 in the British boys’ championship.
Jake Benson, 16, (Beeston Fields) was third in the Scottish U16 boys’ stroke play and tied for U16 Hazards Salver at the English U18 boys’ stroke play championship, where he was 10th overall. He tied fifth in the North of England U16s.
Toby Briggs, 15, (Dunston Hall) tied for the McGregor Trophy only to lose in a play-off, and was runner-up at the Fairhaven Trophies. He represented England in the Boys’ Home Internationals.
Barclay Brown, 14, (Hallamshire) was fourth in the English U16 boys’ championship and fifth in the North of England U16 stroke play. He is the youngest winner of the Sheffield open amateur – taking the record from Danny Willett.
Alex Fitzpatrick, 16, (Hallamshire) was third in the Italian U16 international and fifth at the McGregor Trophy after equalling the course record at Wallasey in his final round, with six-under 66. He tied ninth in the North of England U16s.
Angus Flanagan, 16, (St George’s Hill) was runner-up in the South Eastern junior championship, tied seventh in the Scottish U16s and was eighth in the South of England boys’ open.
Harry Goddard, 15, (Hanbury Manor) won the North of England U16 boys’ title, was third in the RB Junior German Masters and finished sixth in the South Eastern junior championship.
Ben Jones, 16, Brampton Heath) tied sixth in the McGregor, was eighth in the North of England U16s and 15th in the Italian U16s. He represented Northamptonshire at Boys’ County Finals.
Luke Kelly, 16, (Ashton-under-Lyne) was seventh in the North of England U16s, tied 17th in the McGregor Trophy and 21st in the Scottish U16s.
Charlie Strickland, 16, (Ham Manor) represented England in the Boys’ Home Internationals. He was in the three-way tie for the McGregor Trophy, was third in the South Eastern junior championship and fifth in the Peter McEvoy Trophy.

     Scotland U16 team
  • Callum Bruce, Duff House Royal
  • Callum Burns, Balmore
  • Ross Callan, Bathgate
  • Rowan Carey, Auchterarder
  • Darren Howie, Peebles
  • Eric McIntosh, Murrayfield
  • Kyle Reid, Balmore
  • Aidan Smith, Edzell
  • Jamie Stewart, Old Course Ranfurly
  • Marc Watt, Inverallochy

Lyndsey Hewison
Press Officer
England Golf
pr@englandgolf.org
07825 752 193

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Porsche European Open

Graeme storms up to share halfway lead with 

Fisher and Schwartzel

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

A stunning eagle on the back nine helped lift Graeme Storm into a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Porsche European Open at Bad Griesbach, Germany
The Englishman added a four under par 67 to his first-round score of 65 to join countryman Ross Fisher and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel on ten under par 132 .
Byeong Hun-An and Richard McEvoy are one stroke further back on nine under, with BMW PGA Champion Byeong firing an eagle, five birdies and a solitary bogey on Friday.
Storm, who began the day one shot off the overnight lead, notched two birdies on his way to reaching the turn in 33.
The 37 year old started his back nine in style, chipping in for an eagle at the par five tenth to move to ten under.
Storm then dropped a shot at the 13th before saving par with an excellent ten foot putt at the 14th.
After safely parring the 15th, Storm made a gain at the next to match the clubhouse target of ten under set by Schwartzel earlier in the day.
Storm was delighted with his second-round total, saying: "I’m really happy to shoot four under today. I didn’t feel I was swinging it that great today.
"I didn’t feel I was hitting the ball that great but I got round and made a few putts and I had a chip in on the tenth for eagle, which always helps.
"I didn’t quite hit my second shot to get on the green but I had a lovely chip and run with a lob wedge which came off perfect.
"You need to score on those holes, 11, 12 and 13. I let myself down a bit on 13 with my only bogey of the week so far."
Starting his round at the tenth tee, former Masters Tournament winner Schwartzel covered the front nine in 35, mixing eight pars with a birdie.
He made another gain straight after the turn before chipping in from beside the green to save par at the short second.
The 31 year old then added birdies at the third, fifth and eighth holes to head into the weekend on tied for the lead.
He said: "It’s nice to play some consistent golf. I’ve been feeling like I’m going to play well for a while, knocking on the door, but not had the momentum go my way.
"This time around I’ve kept it together nicely. I’ve hit lots of greens, given myself lots of opportunities and made a few putts, which helps.
"The putting is getting better. I can chip, that’s not my problem, but things like that (the second hole) are what you need when you are going to have a good tournament and compete. It keeps the momentum going."
Fisher got off to a strong start, carding back-to-back birdies at the second and third before picking up another shot at the eighth.
The five time European Tour winner then made three gains in his first five holes on the back nine before carding the only bogey of his round at the 15th.
The 34 year old bounced straight back, holing his birdie putt from four feet at the 16th before parring the final two holes to finish on ten under.
He said: "I’m delighted. I played some very good golf out there. My form has been good and I am hitting the ball nicely. Results just haven’t shown that.
"Missing the cut in Holland, I didn’t actually play that badly. I felt fresh coming into this week after a week off and felt pretty comfortable out there in the pro-am.
"It is a course that suits me, I can be aggressive off the tee with the driver and the greens are so pure. I’ve got good vibes with it being the European Open, having won the tournament.
"I’m delighted it is back on the schedule and I’m delighted to put myself in position after two days."
An reached the turn in 34 before covering the back nine in 31 thanks in no small part to his six foot eagle putt at the tenth.
The South Korean is pleased with how he is playing. He said: "I’m one off the lead and I like my chances. I’ve been playing well. After Wentworth I was a bit shaky, but you have those moments.

"Certainly last week I was playing well. I’ve worked hard on my putting, and I have putted well so far this week too."
England’s McEvoy looked like grabbing a late share of the lead when he set off for home with an eagle at the tenth followed by a hat-trick of gains from the 12th, but he bogeyed the final hole for a 67.

Elsewhere two time Champion Bernhard Langer added a second round 71 to Thursday's 66 to head into the weeken-d on five under.
Graeme McDowell fired one of the shots of the day, saving par from 100 yards at the 13th on his way to reaching four under par, but overnight leader Bernd Wiesberger missed the cut after a second-round 76.

Biggest name among the non-qualifiers with  totals of two-under-par 140 and over was American Hunter Mahan who slumped from a first-round 66 to a second-round 76 for 142.
Scot Peter Whiteford made it on the limit mark with rounds of 67 and 72 but Craig Lee (70-70 for 140), Marc Warren (69-77 for 146) and Stephen Gallacher (75-75 for 150) all missed out.
Scott Jamieson is the best placed Scot with 68 and 70 for 138, six shots off the pace.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)

132 R Fisher (Eng) 67 65, C Schwartzel  (RSA) 66 66, G Storm  (Eng) 65 67
133 B An (SKor) 68 65, R McEvoy  (Eng) 66 67
134 J Edfors (Swe) 66 68, D Fichardt (RSA) 65 69
135 J Donaldson (Wal) 67 68, M Carlsson  (Swe) 67 68, M Ilonen  (Fin) 69 66, O Fisher  (Eng) 66 69, F Fritsch  (Ger) 66 69, J Walters (RSA) 67 68, R Bland (Eng) 65 70,
 136 L Bjerregaard  (Den) 68 68, B Hebert  (Fra) 64 72, T Jaidee (Tha) 68 68, S Kjeldsen (Den) 66 70, P Uihlein  (USA) 68 68, J Parry (Eng) 66 70, M Jiménez (Esp) 67 69, J Morrison  (Eng) 67 69, M Kieffer (Ger) 68 68,
 137 R Jacquelin (Fra) 70 67, A Cañizares  (Esp) 70 67, M Korhonen (Fin) 70 67, H Otto (RSA) 67 70, A Hansen (Den) 69 68, B Langer (Ger) 66 71, R Green (Aus) 65 72, S Heisele (Ger) 70 67, A Tadini (Ita) 68 69, K Ferrie (Eng) 70 67,
 138 S Hend (Aus) 69 69, L Jensen (Den) 68 70, R Karlsson (Swe) 66 72, E Espana (Fra) 69 69, R Finch  (Eng) 66 72, G McDowell  (Nir) 68 70, B Dredge (Wal) 68 70, P Hanson (Swe) 68 70, D McGrane (Irl) 71 67, A Dodt (Aus) 70 68, F Zanotti (Par) 70 68, M Fraser (Aus) 69 69, S Jamieson  (Sco) 68 70, N Colsaerts  (Bel) 72 66, P Edberg (Swe) 67 71, B Evans  (Eng) 68 70, S Benson (Eng) 68 70, M Lundberg (Swe) 70 68, J Luiten (Ned) 69 69,
 139 L Slattery (Eng) 68 71, R Karlberg  (Swe) 68 71, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 68 71, M Nixon (Eng) 71 68, A Levy (Fra) 72 67, W Ormsby (Aus) 72 67, C Bouniol (Fra) 69 70, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 69 70, P Whiteford (Sco) 67 72, G Havret  (Fra) 69 70, C Paisley  (Eng) 67 72, A Choi (Can) 70 69, S Wakefield (Eng) 69 70, P Mejow (Ger) 68 71,

MISSED THE CUT
140 S Kapur (Ind) 68 72, M Hoey  (Nir) 70 70, C Lee (Sco) 70 70, V Riu  (Fra) 68 72, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 71 69, T Lewis (Eng) 67 73, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 64 76, B Ritthammer (Ger) 67 73, D Horsey (Eng) 67 73, M Orrin (Eng) 70 70, D Howell (Eng) 72 68,
 141 G Stal  (Fra) 71 70, S Hansen (Den) 71 70, J Lagergren (Swe) 70 71, M Ford (Eng) 71 70, J Singh (Ind) 71 70, A Velasco (Esp) 72 69, Y Yang (SKor) 71 70, E De La Riva  (Esp) 70 71, P Lawrie (Irl) 69 72, K Phelan (Irl) 70 71,
 142 R Wattel  (Fra) 72 70, H Mahan  (USA) 66 76, D Lipsky (USA) 66 76, M Manassero (Ita) 74 68, C Wood  (Eng) 68 74, T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 67 75, J Scrivener (Aus) 69 73, N Fasth (Swe) 67 75, R Gonzalez (Arg) 69 73, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 75 67, T Van Der Walt (RSA) 70 72, P Maddy (Eng) 69 73,
 143 M Tullo (Chi) 70 73, D Woltman (USA) 68 75, A Wall (Eng) 72 71, M Bremner (RSA) 70 73, E Molinari  (Ita) 73 70, P Larrazábal (Esp) 73 70, F Aguilar (Chi) 70 73, R Paratore (Ita) 74 69, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 73, N Elvira  (Esp) 70 73, W Starke (am) (USA) 73 70,
 144 G Bourdy (Fra) 72 72, A Otaegui  (Esp) 72 72, D Brooks (Eng) 77 67, K Broberg (Swe) 69 75, S Jaeger (Ger) 76 68, A Pavan (Ita) 73 71, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 68 76, S Manley (Wal) 72 72, M Rottluff (am) (Ger) 73 71,
 145 T Olesen (Den) 70 75, D Gaunt (Aus) 75 70, P Oriol (Esp) 72 73, M Lampert (Ger) 73 72, G Mulroy (RSA) 71 74,
 146 M Grönberg (Swe) 75 71, S Thornton (Irl) 77 69, J Roos (RSA) 72 74, M Schneider (Ger) 69 77, J Carlsson (Swe) 72 74, A Quiros  (Esp) 70 76, M Warren (Sco) 69 77, T Murray (Eng) 72 74,
 147 S Hutsby  (Eng) 73 74, B Neumayer (Aut) 71 76, A Saddier (Fra) 73 74,
 148 J Campillo (Esp) 73 75, S Einhaus (Ger) 70 78, P Archer (Eng) 74 74, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 72 76, M Crespi  (Ita) 76 72, M Foster (Eng) 76 72, A Hortal  (Esp) 68 80,
 149 J Kruger (RSA) 74 75,
 150 O Farr (Wal) 73 77, R Santos  (Por) 71 79, S Gallacher (Sco) 75 75, O Wilson (Eng) 75 75,
 152 E Goya (Arg) 74 78,
 155 M Hoffmann  (USA) 78 77, C Lloyd (Eng) 77 78,
 159 S Strüver (Ger) 84 75,
 161 T Levet (Fra) 79 82,
 ** S Dodd (Wal) 78 WD, C Doak (Sco) 73 retired
, J Barnes (Eng) 77 WD, J Van Zyl (RSA) 72 RT,

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NEW CAPTAIN CALDWELL DRIVES IN

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R and A 
The traditional driving-in ceremony for the new Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews took place on the 1st tee of the Old Course today.
Gavin Caldwell began his year in office with a drive at precisely 8am as a cannon fired alongside the tee. A large crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the ceremony along with a number of Past Captains including HRH The Duke of York.
As Captain, Mr Caldwell will represent The R and A and support its work in developing golf around the world. He will attend R and A championships in the professional and amateur games and assume an ambassadorial role for the Club.
After hitting his tee shot, Mr Caldwell said: “This is a great thrill for me because I am only the third Irishman ever to be Captain of the Club in its very long history. This moment has been on my mind since I was asked to be Captain.
“I have a wonderful year ahead representing The R and A at many events all around the world. It’s important to me to be a good Club Captain and it is truly an honour to take up this new role. I’m looking forward to spending time with the members and participating in events that happen here in St Andrews.”
Born in Belfast in 1947, Mr Caldwell was club Captain and Chairman of the Walker Cup Committee when it hosted the 1991 match. A former Trustee of Portmarnock Golf Club, he enjoyed a successful university golf career and is President of Dublin University Golfing Society.
Mr Caldwell was educated at St Columba’s College and Trinity College, Dublin and embarked on a career in investment management. In 1980, he was appointed as the founding Chief Executive of Ulster Bank Investment Managers, the Irish subsidiary of NatWest Group, a role he held until 2003. He is currently a non-executive director of several Irish subsidiaries of international investment companies.
Mr Caldwell has served on the Amateur Status and Championship Committees of The R and A and was a member of the General Committee from 2010-2013. He has been a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club since 1996. He resides in Howth, Co Dublin with his wife Jane and has five children, Robert, Sarah, Sonia, Jennifer and Gillian.
In the past, the Club Captaincy was bestowed on the winner of the annual Challenge for the Silver Club but by the early 19th Century the Captaincy had become an elected office.
Part of the tradition is that a gold sovereign is paid by the new Captain to buy his golf ball back from the caddie who retrieves and returns it. 
 American caddie Oliver Horovitz returned the Captain’s ball for the third time, after also retrieving it at the driving-in ceremony of 2014-2015 Captain George Macgregor OBE and 2011-2012 Captain Alistair Low.
“I’m really excited to receive the sovereign for a third time,” said Horovitz, who is currently in his tenth season on the links. “Last year I phoned my mother back in New York and woke her up with the news so I’ll have to do that again today. I think the secret is to try and get as good a view before the Captain hits his shot, and more than that I think I’ve just been really lucky. It’s a huge honour to be part of this ceremony.”

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                          George Brown 1938 – 2015


We are saddened to report the death of George Brown, 77, who was the former Course Manager at Turnberry, the legendary links facility in Ayrshire, and the National Chairman of BIGGA in 2003.
Hailing from Kent, George was immersed in golf from an early age as a caddie, a greenkeeper and also an extremely talented golfer who played to county standard.
His funeral is taking place at Barham Crematorium on Friday 2nd October at 3.20pm followed by a gathering at Prince's Golf Club, Kent at which all of his friends and colleagues are very welcome.
I am pleased to be able to host a video of George taking part in a preview of The 2009 Open where he spoke passionately about his love for Turnberry, course changes, the weather and Turnberry’s rich history.
Geoff Russell, Publisher

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Henrik Stenson races out to 63, two-shot

 leader at US Tour Championship

Henrik Stenson during British Open practice
Henrik Stenson during  practice ( Getty Images )

ATLANTA – The curtain rose Thursday at East Lake Golf Club in the opening round of the Tour Championship, and Henrik Stenson had a goal. He wanted to break from the gates as fast as he could. A birdie-birdie-birdie start and a front-nine, 6-under 29 certainly checked off that box.
“That’s what I was looking for,” Stenson said, “and I got it.”
He was too consumed in the moment to start thinking about shooting golf’s magic number – 59 – at one of the game’s biggest events, but surely others were thinking about it. Some light drizzle hit in the midst of his back nine with Stenson 8 under through 12 on the par-70 track, and his game would cool over the final holes, which included a dropped shot at the par-4 17th. But his overall work for the day was shining: a 7-under 63 that delivered a two-shot cushion over Paul Casey.
“Unfortunately, dropped one coming in, but that’s not going to spoil the positive vibes and the great round I played,” Stenson said.
Stenson, 39, who enters this week fourth in the race for the FedEx Cup and its $10 million bounty, is one of five players who can capture the playoffs by winning the Tour Championship. 
The others: Jordan Spieth, who shot 68; Jason Day and Rickie Fowler, who opened with 69; and Bubba Watson (70).
Stenson hasn’t won this season, but he is the only player among the top 5 who truly knows what it takes to win the FedEx Cup. Stenson did that two years ago, also capturing the Tour Championship, and Thursday his round seemed a mix of present brilliance and good memories to call upon.
In ’13, Stenson also got out to a hot start, shooting 64 on Day 1 to take control. He never left the top of the leaderboard, eventually winning with a total of 13-under 267. He could join Tiger Woods on Sunday as only the second player to win multiple FedEx Cups.
Day, who has won four of his last six starts, including a pair of six-shot victories in the playoffs, got off to a terrific start, too, making birdies on his first three holes. The rest of the field had to be glancing at on-course leaderboards wondering if Day is man or machine. But he blocked a driver right and out of bounds on the par-4 fifth hole, leading to a triple-bogey, the first sign he’s given since mid-summer that he’s actually mortal.
“Unfortunately, as humans, we’re going to make some errors,” Day said.
Day said the tee shot on 5 was one of two he’d like to have over, the second being another poor tee shot that led him to punch out from the trees en route to bogey-5 at the 16th.
“To make triple was pretty disappointing, but it’s early on in the tournament, so I can’t dwell on that,” said Day, who on Monday rose to World No. 1.
Rory McIlroy, world No. 2, started slowly but made six birdies in his final 12 holes to shoot 66. Spieth, ranked third in the world, said he had trouble squaring his clubface, and termed his opening 68 “boring.” But he was encouraged by his improved putting, showing better speed control on the greens. It’s something he said that he can build upon.
“Today was definitely an off-day,” Spieth said, “slightly off with both (ballstriking and putting), and I was able to get in at 2 under. This was a round that earlier in the playoffs was a 4-over round. And so I really improved my consistency, even on my misses. And that gives me confidence.”
Nobody played with more confidence than Stenson, who once again pounded the strong 3-wood he carries (12.5 degrees) off the tees and kept the headcover on his driver. 
The highlight of his round came on the 600-yard ninth, where he hit 3-wood, 4-wood to 25 feet and curled in a right-to-left putt for eagle.
When Stenson won in 2013 (his only other start at East Lake), he hit only seven drivers all week. On Thursday, he hit none. That’s how pivotal it is to stay out of East Lake’s sticky Bermuda rough. Stenson hit 11 fairways and 13 greens, and with 25 putts, said “the putter was behaving good.”
Mathematically, Stenson can actually win the FedEx Cup this week without recording a single victory this season. But he knows if he can win at East Lake, it simplifies all scenarios and calculations.
“If I were to finish second and win the FedEx Cup, I’m pretty sure I’ll be smiling on Sunday,” Stenson said. “I’ll be smiling more if I got two trophies, but I’ll deal with one as well.”

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
 par 70

1 --


63








2 --


65







T5 --


68







T5 -- -2 F -2 68 -- -- -- 68 16 24 8
T5 -- -2 F -2 68 -- -- -- 68 13 17 4
T5 -- -2 F -2 68 -- -- -- 68 3 2 1
T11 -- . 69 .
T11 -- . 69 . .
T11 -- . 69 .
T11 -- . 69 .
T11 -- . 69 .
T11 -- . 69 .

T17 --


70






T17 --


70






T19 --


71





T21 --


72








T21 --


72







T23 --


73







T23 --


73







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Copyright © Colin Farquharson

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