Howell manages 64 at windy Sea Island

Charles Howell III had an advantage of playing the right course for the cold, windy conditions Thursday at the RSM Classic on St. Simons Island. He made the most of it with a game so complete he never played from the rough and had a birdie putt on every hole.

Howell bundled up from the cold and shot 8-under 64 on the Plantation course at Sea Island Resort, giving a two-shot lead to par in the opening round of the final PGA Tour event of 2018.

Howell was two shots ahead of defending champion Austin Cook and J.J. Spaun, who were at 6-under 66 on the Plantation course. Tournament host Davis Love III had two bogeys and still managed a 67 at Plantation.

The Seaside course, where the final two rounds are held, is more exposed to the wind. The best score at Seaside belonged to Brian Harman and Peter Uihlein, who each had at a 4-under 66.

“I was awfully glad I was on Plantation and not Seaside,” Howell said. “But someone just told me that I hit every fairway and every green, so I can’t think of the last time I’ve done that. I think sometimes playing these difficult conditions, it forces you to stay a bit more present.”

■ Francesco Molinari missed two par putts from less than 2 feet in his opening round of the World Tour Championship in Dubai to give Tommy Fleetwood a sliver of a chance of keeping the European Tour season title. Molinari was cruising at one stage, having reached 6 under after 14 holes, but three-putted the 15th and 18th holes to finish on 4-under 68.

Fleetwood, his only remaining rival in the Race to Dubai, completed his bogeyfree round with a wonderful 25-foot birdie putt from off the green on the par-5 18th, and finished just one shot behind Molinari at 69.

■ Playing the LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship for the first time, Amy Olson was flawless with nine birdies and no dropped shots on her way to a 9-under 63 and a one-shot lead over Brittany Lincicome and Nasa Hataoka after the opening round at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla.