Reed, Laird share early lead after Barclays first round

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Patrick Reed didn’t break anything Thursday except par.

Two days after Reed broke the gavel during the ceremonial closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, the American kept a clean card and shot 5-under-par 66 to share the lead with Martin Laird at The Barclays.

Reed ran off three birdies and an eagle on the front nine at Bethpage Black.

The start of the FedEx Cup play- GOLF offs, with a $10 million bonus waiting at the end, was more about a cup that doesn’t pay a dime.

A dozen or so Americans still are in the mix to make the Ryder Cup team. Qualifying ends after this week for the top eight, and then Davis Love III has four captain’s picks over the next month.

Reed is winless this year and holding down the No. 8 position in the Ryder Cup standings. Reed and Laird were a shot ahead of three other Ryder Cup hopefuls — Rickie Fowler, Kevin Chappell and J.B. Holmes.

The Barclays is the start of a four-tournament series in which the field size shrinks until 30 qualify for the finale at the Tour Championship.

LPGA — At Priddis, Alberta, three-time champion Lydia Ko shot a 5-under 67 at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in a first round delayed for nearly three hours because of lightning, leaving her two strokes behind leader Chella Choi.

Canadian Brooke Henderson was 1 under at Priddis Greens with three holes left when play was suspended because of darkness.