ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Davis Love III might have found the perfect tonic for any Ryder Cup hangover — playing golf, and playing well on a Sea Island course he knows better than anyone. ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. —
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Davis Love III might have found the perfect tonic for any Ryder Cup hangover — playing golf, and playing well on a Sea Island course he knows better than anyone.
In his third straight tournament since his U.S. team lost a big lead on the final day at Medinah, Love hit a 6-iron to 3 feet on the 17th hole that put him in the final group going into the weekend at the McGladrey Classic, where he is becoming more than just a tournament host.
Love was one shot behind Arjun Atwal, who is running out of time to keep his PGA Tour card. Atwal made an adjustment in his putting stroke earlier in the week and watched it pay off in a big way at Sea Island for a 63, his best score of the year.
Atwal, whose two-year exemption from winning in Greensboro, N.C., expires this year, is No. 175 on the money list and has only two tournaments left to finish in the top 125. He opened with three straight birdies and took the outright lead with a wedge into 5 feet on the fifth hole, his 14th of the round.
Atwal was at 10-under 130, though this tournament has a distinct Ryder Cup feel going into the final two days. It starts with Love, the American captain, who moved to Sea Island when he was 14.
Love was tied with Jim Furyk, who hasn’t played since his bogey-bogey finish in the Ryder Cup and is making his final PGA Tour appearance of the year.
Furyk was plodding along Sea Island, a few birdies on his card, when he rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt on the 14th, converted a two-putt birdie from 100 feet away just off the green, and made a third straight birdie on the 16th from about 12 feet. He wound up with a 65.
David Toms was tied with them until he made bogey on the final hole for a 67, though he was still only two shots out of the lead. Bud Cauley, who shared the first-round lead, wasn’t as crisp with his irons and had to settle for a 70. He also was two behind, still in great shape as he pursues his first PGA Tour win. Gavin Coles joined them at 132 after six birdies in a round of 65.
Pette rsen fires 63 at HanaBank
INCHEON, South Korea — Norway’s Suzann Pettersen shot a course-record 9-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s HanaBank Championship.
Pettersen birdied five of her first six holes and nine of the first 15 on Sky 72 Golf Club’s Ocean Course. She won the tournament in 2007.
Sweden’s Karin Sjodin opened with a 65, and South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, Moon Hyun-hee and Kim Ha-neul were three strokes back at 66 along with Japan’s Ai Miyazato and Spain’s Azahara Munoz.
Top-ranked Yani Tseng had a 67.
Michelle Wie and Cheyenne Woods shot 73.
Grillo pulling away at Perth International
PERTH, Australia — Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo moved closer to securing his European Tour card for next season, shooting a 5-under 67 to take a four-stroke lead in the Perth International.
The 20-year-old Grillo had two eagles and two birdies at Lake Karrinyup to finish at 11-under 133.
American Bo Van Pelt and Australia’s Jason Scrivener were tied for second. Van Pelt had a 67, and Scrivener shot a 69.
American Jason Duffner was another stroke back after a 67.
South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel missed the cut with rounds of 71 and 76.
