Johnson fires 63 to lead by a stroke

Dustin Johnson wants to sharpen his game for the U.S. Open. Moving back to No. 1 in the world would just be a nice bonus because the only way he can do that before playing at Shinnecock Hills is by winning the St. Jude Classic.

Johnson knows what he wants.

“I just want to win,” Johnson said.

Johnson shot a 7-under-par 63 for his lowest round this year and grabbed a one-stroke lead Friday after 36 holes at the PGA Tour’s St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn. 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. Defending U.S. Open champ Brooks Koepka (69) was at 5-under, and Phil Mickelson (70) was at 4-under.

Two-time defending champ Daniel Berger (71-141) missed the cut.

Johnson spent 64 weeks atop the world ranking until Justin Thomas made the cut at the Players Championship in May and grabbed the top spot. Johnson said the course and playing only four times in April and May combined prompted his decision to play im Memphis before going to Shinnecock Hills.

“Just wanted to play, stay sharp,” Johnson said. “I like this golf course, and I feel like I play it well and wanted to be on top of my game going into next week, too.”

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 LPGA 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 in the afternoon when the wind was stronger, the 30-year-old Swede closed her bogeyfree round with a birdie on the par-5 ninth.

Lydia Ko, In-Gee Chun and Pernilla Lindberg were at 67 with Sandra Gal, Su Oh, Beatriz Recari, Amy Yang and Marina Alex. Defending champion I.K. Kim had a 68. PGA Tour Champions: Bernhard Langer returned from a three-week break to shoot an 8-under 64 and take the firstround 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. The 60-year-old German took the brief break in part to attend his son’s high school graduation.

Glen Day and Woody Austin were a stroke back, and defending champion Brandt Jobe was at 66 with Jerry Kelly, Tom Lehman and Doug Garwood.