Canadian Rod Spittle enjoys strong start at Champions Tour event

CALGARY — Canadian Rod Spittle is off to a solid start in his final PGA Tour Champions event.

Spittle shot 4-under 66 in the opening round of the 54-hole Shaw Charity Classic event on Friday, putting him in a tie for third place two shots behind co-leaders Miguel Angel Jimenez and Kirk Triplett.

After bogeying the 17th hole at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, Spittle rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th and received a rousing ovation from the fans.

“We had a good spot, it was pretty level,” said the 63-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont.

“You just try to hit the best putt you can, of course, and yeah, it kind of found the bottom. So a really nice way to finish. It sets us up for a great weekend, there’s no doubt about it.”

Prior to the season, Spittle decided to retire after playing an 11-tournament schedule.

“I never really thought it was that big a deal,” he said.

“It was just time for us to begin to kind of ride into the sunset and we picked our 11 tournaments and that’s all cool. Obviously we set it up to do it here at home, so that’s all great.”

Jimenez had an up-and-down round with an eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys. He had a chance for eagle on the final hole, but wound up making par.

“It’s a pity to make three putts on the last hole,” said Jimenez, who finished second behind Scott McCarron at last year’s Shaw Charity Classic. “I played very well apart from making three bogeys.”