Henley in lead at Northern Trust

OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. — Dustin Johnson hasn’t felt this good about his game since he was winning every tournament he played.

Johnson overcame a shaky start with a switch to his old putter to post a 5-under 65, leaving him one shot behind Russell Henley after the opening round of The Northern Trust.

The 65 was his lowest round since he won at Riviera in February, which began his rise to No. 1 in the world. That was the start of three straight victories going into the Masters, where Johnson injured his back and had to withdraw.

Henley played in the morning and holed seven birdie putts from 12 feet or closer. He also had an 80-foot chip-in for birdie for his 64.

The Northern Trust is the first of four FedEx Cup playoff events that lead to the Tour Championship and the $10 million payoff. Alex leads at Ottawa Hunt; Canadian star Henderson struggles: Marina Alex shot a 5-under 66 on Thursday to take the lead in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Ottawa, Ontario, while Canadian star Brooke Henderson was in danger of missing the cut after a 74.

Alex had four birdies on her opening nine — the back nine at Ottawa Hunt — and added two birdies and a bogey on her second nine. The American is winless on the PGA Tour.

Henderson, from nearby Smiths Falls, struggled on the greens. The 19-year-old Canadian has four LPGA Tour victories, winning the major KPMG Women’s PGA last year and the Meijer LPGA Classic in June.

South Korea’s In Gee Chun and England’s Holly Clyburn were a stroke back at 67. 3 share lead after first round of Made In Denmark event: Australian golfer Wade Ormsby and Englishmen Matt Wallace and Steve Webster shared the lead at 7-under 64 after the first round of the Made In Denmark tournament in Farso, Denmark, on the European Tour on Thursday.

The No. 163rd.-ranked Wallace made nine birdies, but a bogey 5 at the last cost him the outright lead at the Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort.

Swedish players Oscar Lengden and Robert Karlsson, and Benjamin Hebert of France were one stroke behind the joint leaders after 65s.