With a 61, Clark takes Phoenix Open lead
Wyndham Clark beat darkness — and everyone else Thursday at TPC Scottsdale.
Playing in the secondtolast group off the 10th tee, Clark shot a careerbest 10underpar 61 to take the firstround lead in the Phoenix Open.
He had eight birdies in a 10hole stretch from No. 12 to No. 3, added two more on Nos. 7 and 8 and putted out for par on No. 9 just after sunset. “I hit a lot of fairways and I just gave myself a lot of looks and the putter was hot,” Clark said.
The 26yearold University of Oregon alum is in his second full season on the tour. He missed the cuts the past two weeks.
Billy Horschel was second, holing nearly 200 feet of putts in an afternoon 63. J.B. Holmes was another stroke back after a rollercoaster start — highlighted by a holeinone — and big finish in the morning wave. He won the event in 2006 and 2008 for his first PGA Tour titles.
Tom Hoge, Harris English, Bud Cauley and Byeong Hun An shot 65, and Nate Lashley, K.J. Choi, Sungjae Im, Adam Long and Hudson Swafford were at 66.
Jon Rahm opened with a 67. He can jump from No. 3 to No. 1 in the world with a victory, provided topranked Brooks Koepka — tied for 48th in the Saudi International after an opening 70 — finishes out of the top four.
Defending champion Rickie Fowler had seven bogeys in a 74. Jordan Spieth also shot 74. Bubba Watson, playing alongside Spieth, bogeyed two of his last three for a 69.
European Tour: Graeme McDowell and Gavin Green shared the lead at the Saudi International by shooting 6under 64 in the first round at King Abdullah Economic City.
McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion at Pebble Beach, birdied the final three holes despite strong afternoon winds sweeping the course next to the Red Sea. Five players were one shot behind at 5under, including 2016 British Open champion Henrik Stenson.
Phil Mickelson, McDowell’s playing partner, shot a 66 and trailed by two shots, alongside five others. Defending champion Dustin Johnson, who won the inaugural event last year, carded a 67 to be in a group of seven at 3under. Koepka and former No. 1 Lee Westwood both shot 70.
Saudi Arabia’s controversial image and humanrights record affected the lineup at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. Rory McIlroy said last month that the country’s image was a factor in declining his invitation, and a reported $2.5 million appearance fee.
Mickelson said last month on Twitter he understood those fans “who are upset or disappointed” about his decision to play there instead of at the Phoenix Open with its large crowds. PGA Tour Champions: Stephen Ames shot a 9under 63 to take a fourstroke lead over a Hall of Fame quartet in the Morocco Champions in Marrakech, the first PGA Tour Champions event in Africa.
Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal and Retief Goosen shot 67 in sunny conditions with an afternoon high of 77 degrees. LPGA cancels China event: The LPGA says it has canceled the Blue Bay LPGA event scheduled for the first week of March on Hainan Island in China, citing health concerns and travel restrictions because of the coronavirus outbreak.
China has reported more than 7,700 cases of the virus and 170 deaths. The industrial hub of Wuhan and other Chinese cities are on lockdown.