Johnson fires a 63 to lead by one shot
Dustin Johnson shot 7-under 63 for his lowest round this year and grabbed a one-stroke lead Friday after 36 holes at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis.
With a victory at TPC Southwind, Johnson would reclaim his spot as the world’s top-ranked player going into the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. He had four of his seven birdies and an eagle on his back nine for a 29 and finished with a 10-under 130 total.
Ryan Blaum and Andrew Putnam each shot 64 and were tied second, and C.T. Pan (65) and Wesley Bryan (66) followed at 8 under.
Brandt Snedeker shot his best round this year with a 62 that was one stroke off the course record. He was at 7 under.
Irishman Seamus Power, who came in with a one-stroke lead, shot a 69 to reach 6 under.
Madison’s Steve Stricker carded a 70 and was six shots back.
LPGA Tour: Two-time champion Anna Nordqvist shot a 5-under 66 for a share of the first-round lead with Laura Diaz and Celine Herbin in the ShopRite Classic in Galloway, N.J.
Nordqvist won the 54-hole event in 2015 and 2016 on Stockton Seaview’s Bay Course and finished second last year. Teeing off Friday in the afternoon when the wind was stronger, the 30year-old Swede closed her bogey-free round with a birdie on the par-5 ninth.
The 43-year-old Diaz made the field as an alternate. She played in the morning when the greens were smoother and the wind more benign.
Herbin birdied the final two holes. Champions Tour: Bernhard Langer returned for a three-week break to shoot an 8-under 64 and take the first-round lead in the Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines, Iowa.
Langer closed the bogey-free round with a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th at Wakonda Club.
Glen Day and Woody Austin were a stroke back, and defending champion Brandt Jobe was at 66 with Jerry Kelly of Madison, Tom Lehman and Doug Garwood.