Walker leads Bridgestone; Spieth and Rory looming

AKRON, OHIO» The sun finally came out, and Jimmy Walker saw a glimpse of what he hopes are brighter days ahead.

In a year marked by coping with Lyme disease and bouts of fatigue, Walker endured rain delays of nearly five hours Friday and posted a 5-under 65 for a twoshot lead going into the weekend at the Bridgestone Invitational.

The timing couldn’t be better for Walker, who goes to Quail Hollow next week to defend his title in the PGA Championship.

“It hadn’t been fun this year,” Walker said. “But it’s nice to see some putts go in and make some solid swings and keep rounds going, make par putts, just the stuff I haven’t been doing.”

He was at 7-under 133, two shots ahead of Thomas Pieters of Belgium, who had a 70.

He also has a slew of players not far behind him in this World Golf Championship. Rory McIlroy put together a steady round of 69 and was three shots back, along with Zach Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama, who each shot 67.

Jordan Spieth is tied for sixth.

Kim takes 2-shot lead.

I.K. Kim, the best player in women’s golf right now, emerged from the cold and wet with a 4-under 68 to build a two-shot lead in the Women’s British Open going into the weekend.

Curry cut, Yun leads.

HAYWARD, CALIF.» Stephen Curry missed the cut against professional golfers one notch below the PGA Tour.

But not before leaving some of golf’s best players impressed that a two-time MVP for the Golden State Warriors could enter their arena and look respectable.

Curry opened with a 4-over 74 on the TPC Stonebrae and needed a career round to stay for the weekend.

Instead, he shot 39 on the front nine and finished 8 over for the tournament, well below the projected cut at the Ellie Mae Classic.

Andrew Yun leads at 13-under 127 after a second-round 62.

Perry holding share of lead.

Two-time tournament winner Kenny Perry shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to hold a share of the lead after the first round of the PGA Tour Champions event just outside of Minneapolis-St. Paul.