SPIETH’S STRUGGLES CONTINUE DOWN UNDER

Defending champion Jordan Spieth failed to take advantage of ideal scoring conditions at the Australian Open on Friday, shooting an even-par 71 to fall further behind the leaders.

After an opening 70, he was at 1-under 141 and eight strokes behind clubhouse leader Lucas Herbert, who shot 66 on Friday and was at 9-under 133. Spieth trailed by seven strokes after the opening round.

First-round leader Cameron Davis, who led by two strokes after a 63, had a later start, as did Jason Day, who trailed Davis by three shots.

Spieth, who hasn’t played since the Presidents Cup in late September, has won the Australian Open two out of the last three years and finished second the other time.

At least his morning start Saturday means he will avoid the windy conditions that the leading groups will have to contend with in the afternoon.

And that left him optimistic of a comeback. In 2014, he shot a then course-record 63 to win his first Australian title by six shots.

“I feel like you can make up more ground and come from behind here over I think any tournament I’ve played this entire year,” Spieth said. “The golf course will start to bake out and you get really calm conditions in the morning that leave the windier conditions for the afternoon, so I’ll have a pretty gettable golf course. If I can post something like 5, 6-under, then I’m very much in this tournament.”

— Associated Press