The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Langer up in bid for 3rd major of year
Bernhard Langer shot a 2-under 69 in wind and rain Thursday at Royal Porthcawl to take the first-round lead at the Senior British Open in Bridgend, Wales.
Langer had five birdies and three bogeys for a one-stroke lead over 64-year-old Carl Mason of England and Mauricio Molina of Argentina.
“I’m pretty pleased that I’m on top of the leaderboard at the moment,” said Langer, 59. “Conditions were extremely tough, and not feeling very good physically.
“So, just glad that I made it through the day and I’m in contention.”
Langer has nine senior major titles, including the
Regions Tradition and Senior PGA Championship in consecutive weeks in May. He won by 13 strokes the last time the Senior British Open was at Royal Porthcawl, finishing at 18 under in 2014.
Colin Montgomerie was in a group at 71 that included Tom Lehman, Billy Mayfair, Tom Pernice Jr. and Billy Andrade.
Tom Watson and John Daly were in a group at 72.
“I’m extremely happy because I’m extremely lucky,” the 67-year-old Watson said. “I made some Jordan Spieth putts out there. I made a 90-footer on the first hole and about a 60-footer on 14 for birdies that you never make those, unless you’re Jordan Spieth.”
Canadian Open: Kevin Chappell, Matt Every, Hudson Swafford, Brandon Hagy and Ollie Schniederjans shot 7-under 65s and shared the lead in the first round at Oakville, Ontario, before darkness suspended play.
Matt Kuchar, runner-up in the British Open last Sunday, was treated for dizzy spells during his round and shot 71.
“I’ve had plenty of time to get over the travel,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s just something that passes real quick.”
Ladies Scottish Open: LPGA Hall of Famer Karrie Webb shot a 7-under 65 in cold and windy conditions to take a one-stroke lead over Cristie Kerr at Dundonald Links in Irvine, Scotland.
Webb played the final 10 holes in 7 under par. She birdied the par-4 ninth, made five straight birdies on Nos. 11-15 and added a birdie on the par-5 18th.
Kerr had a bogey-free round.
European Open: Julian Suri, a 26-year-old American, birdied five of the last eight holes to join Richard McEvoy in a share of the lead at 6-under 66 at Hamburg, Germany. Defending champion Alexander Levy was among four tied at 67.