Burns soars to lead at Safeway
Sam Burns got a little ticked off Friday morning. The next thing he knew, Burns was leading the Safeway Open, the first event of the PGA Tour's 2020-21 season.
Burns used the anger from an early double bogey to post a furious rally at the Silverado Resort and Spa North Course in Napa, California.
A stretch of eight birdies in 12 holes following his misstep helped Burns post a 7-under 65 in the second round and snag the clubhouse lead at 15 under. Following the morning wave Friday, Burns stood two strokes clear of Harry Higgs and in position to collect his first overnight lead of any kind on the PGA Tour.
This week marks Burns' 61st PGA Tour start. His best finish on Tour is a tie for third at the 2019 Sanderson Farms Challenge. Burns recorded five top-25 finishes in the season that just ended Monday, his best was a tie for sixth at The American Express.
LPGA Tour: The numbers suggested a stress-free time in the desert for Nelly Korda, who had five birdies and a clean card for a 5-under 67 to build an early two-shot lead Friday in the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, California.
All she could think about were two pars.
The only fairway she missed was on her 11th hole, the par-5 second, and she was badly out of position the entire hole until making an 18foot par putt to escape her big mess. One hole later, after hitting a fat shot from the fairway, she again had to make a par putt from some 25 feet.
Korda was at 11-under 133, two shots clear of Mirim Lee, who also played bogey-free in the rising heat for a 65. Among those playing in the afternoon was Danielle Kang, a twotime winner since the restart who is projected to reach No. 1 in the world with a victory in this tradition-rich major.
Champions Tour: Miguel Angel Jimenez bogeyed the par-4 18th to fall into a tie with David Toms and Dicky Pride for the first-round lead in the Sanford International in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The tournament is the first Champions event with fans since returning from a break because of the coronavirus pandemic.