Woods starts off with a 63 to take tournament lead
The first two weeks in the British Isles have been match play and sour memories for Tiger Woods, whether it was a first-round loss at Wentworth or a resounding loss to Europe in the Ryder Cup.
He returned to stroke play Thursday, and to the top of the leaderboard.
Woods took advantage of a soft course with slick, smooth greens for his best start of the year, an 8-under 63 capped off by an eagle on the last hole that gave him a one-shot lead over Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter in the American Express Championship in Chandler’s Cross, England.
He finished with his best shot of the day. On the 567-yard closing hole at The Grove, which is uphill and played into a breeze, he hammered a driver down the middle and followed with a 3-wood from 267 yards that landed 20 feet from the cup.
•Masters champion Phil Mickelson is done playing for the year, the PGA of America announced in saying that Mike Weir would replace him in the Grand Slam of Golf.
Mickelson did not enter the American Express Championship this week.
Mickelson has shut it down after the PGA Championship the last two years, wanting to spend more time with his family.
PGA
D.J. Trahan isn’t dreaming of chasing Tiger Woods or any of the PGA Tour’s top players as he competes in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in Madison, Miss. He has a more important target – Omar Uresti at No. 125 on the money list.
Trahan, fighting to retain his full tour card with a top-125 finish on the money list, shot a 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead on the Annandale Golf Club course. The 25-year-old former Clemson star entered the week 142nd with $474,242 in earnings on the year.
“I’m certainly hoping for some good things coming down to the last four weeks here,” said Trahan, who had eight birdies and a bogey.
Champions Tour
Champions Tour points and earnings leader Loren Roberts has withdrawn from the Greater Hickory Classic in Conover, N.C., to attend memorial services for Byron Nelson.
“I hated to leave, but I have a relationship with Byron that goes back a long time,” said Roberts.
Nelson died Tuesday at his ranch in Texas. He was 94. A funeral service is planned for today in Richland Hills, Texas.