St. Andrews

Lexi Thompson, of Delray Beach, in the hunt after the first round at the Women’s British Open .

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Finishing fast after a slow start, Michelle Wie birdied her last three holes Thursday for an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead in the Women’s British Open.

Wie bogeyed the par-5 second hole at Kingsbarns Links, and that was the last of her mistakes. The 27-year-old American shot 30 on the back nine and wound up one shot ahead of I.K. Kim of South Korea.

Lindy Duncan was another shot behind at 66, with Delray Beach’s Lexi Thompson among those at 67.

Wie, showing no sign of the neck spasms that forced her to withdraw from last month’s U.S Women’s Open, posted nine birdies during a morning round played in almost perfect weather on the eastern coast of Scotland.

Only later did torrential downpours and the threat of lightning twice disrupt play for a total of 74 minutes.

Laura Davies was one who suffered from the interruptions. Six-under par through 14 holes, the 53-year old from England finished in a mildly disappointing 68, the same score posted by Charley Hull, Britain’s top player.

There were no such problems for Wie. Following the early dropped shot — a badly skulled lob wedge finished far over the second green — she reeled off three birdies before the turn. Over the back nine, it only got better with six birdies in the final eight holes.

As for Thompson, the bighitting Floridian relied less on the yardage book and more on her caddie. Kevin McAlpine, a former Scottish Amateur champion, worked at Kingsbarns for four summers prior to taking the Thompson bag.

“His local knowledge helps tremendously,” Thompson said.

Pieters ahead at Firestone

AKRON, Ohio — Thomas Pieters rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on his final hole for a 5-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the Bridgestone Invitational.

Russell Knox had a 66 with a bogey on his final hole.

Rory McIlroy got by just fine with his best friend as his caddie, opening with a 67, his lowest opening round in America since February 2016. McIlroy split with his caddie of nine years after the British Open.

Also at 67 was Jordan Spieth, feeling so confident about his game that on one shot he asked his caddie how he should escape trouble from the trees. Before Michael Greller could answer, Spieth told him to stand aside and watch. He hit through a tiny gap onto the green.

Bubba Watson, also showing signs of getting his game turned around, was also in the group at 67 that included Kevin Kisner and Jon Rahm.

Wie