Dustin Johnson posts 5-under 66 for 1-shot lead
NORTON, MASS. » Now that he’s finally won again, Dustin Johnson is starting to look as dangerous as ever.
One week after Johnson ended a five-month dry spell brought on by a back injury, he easily handled the early cold and a steady win at TPC Boston for a 5-under 66 to take a one-shot lead in the opening round of the Dell Technologies Championship.
And the world’s No. 1 player made it look easy on a tough day for scoring.
He started with a 35-foot birdie putt on No. 10. He made the turn with a 6-iron from 220 yards that sailed high and rode the left-toright wind into 4 feet for eagle. When another big tee shot settled into a divot on the reachable par-5 second hole, he laid up short of the water and still made birdie.
“Put together a pretty good score,” Johnson said.
Masters champion Sergio Garcia opened with five birdies on the front nine, and then saved his day with a par on his final hole. He hooked his tee shot into the trees, got a bounce into the rough, laid up and then hit wedge to 12 feet and made the putt for a 67.
Jon Rahm also had a 67 that he felt was the best he could have possibly done. It helped that the 22-yearold Spaniard birdied four of his last five holes in the afternoon as the temperature warmed slightly and the wind never went away.
Marc Leishman and Kyle Stanley also were one shot back among the early starters who had to face the surprising chill of morning, a cruel reminder that the end of a New England summer is not far away.
Phil Mickelson, in his last tournament before the picks are made for the Presidents Cup, felt more energy after seeing a doctor and kept his focus on enough good shots for a 69.
“It was nice to have a solid round,” Mickelson said, who had not broken par in the opening round since The Greenbrier in early July. “I played well teeto-green, and it made for a stress-free day on a very difficult day.”
Also: Sutherland shoots 62 for lead
CALGARY, ALBERTA » Kevin Sutherland shot an 8-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead over California childhood rival Scott McCarron in the PGA Tour Champions’ Shaw Charity Classic.
Sutherland played his final nine — the front nine at Canyon Meadows — in 6-under 29. He closed with a par on the par-3 ninth to finish a stroke off the course record of 61 set by Fred Couples in his 2014 victory and matched by Miguel Angel Jimenez the following year.
Jimenez, Todd Hamilton, Billy Andrade and Scott Dunlap shot 64. COLUMBUS, OHIO » Keith Mitchell increased his lead to two strokes in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, shooting a 4-under 67 in the Web.com Tour Finals opener. VYSOKY UJEZD, CZECH REPUBLIC » Lee Slattery overcame heavy rain and cold to shoot a 7-under 65 and take the lead in the second round of the Czech Masters as tough weather conditions forced the suspension of play.