Pieters in lead at Saudi International

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia — Thomas Pieters shot 7-under 63 to take a twostroke lead on Thursday after the first round at the Saudi International, a new European Tour event being held amid scrutiny of the kingdom’s human-rights record and condemnation following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Pieters made seven birdies and was bogey-free around the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club