Stadler leads weatherdisrupted Barclays

JERSEY CITY, United States / New Jersey, Aug 23, 2013

(AFP) - Kevin Stadler fired a bogey-free 64 to seize the lead Thursday in the weather-disrupted first round of The Barclays, the $8 million opening event of the US PGA Tour playoffs.

Stadler had a one-stroke lead over Sweden's Henrik Stenson, Ryan Palmer and Colombian Camilo Villegas.

It was a further stroke back to Australian Jason Day and American Matt Kuchar on 66.

World number one Tiger Woods, whose five victories this season sent him into the playoffs atop the points standings, also played without a bogey, posting a four-under 67 at Liberty National Golf Club.

He was tied in the clubhouse with Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge, Canadian Graham DeLaet and fellow Americans Nicholas Thompson, Matt Every and Morgan Hoffman, while Harris English was also at four-under having played just six holes.

Two weather delays lasted a total of five hours and 51 minutes. No one who teed off in the afternoon played more than nine holes and some completed only two.

Stadler knew he was in for a long wait before he'd have a chance to start round two and try to build on his lead.

Kevin Stadler fired a bogey-free 64 to seize the lead Thursday in the weather-disrupted first round of The Barclays, the $8 million opening event of the US PGA Tour playoffs

But he was pleased to have completed the opening round.

“I don't know what time we are going to start tomorrow,” he said. “It's going to be late. But I prefer to be on this side where we don't have a marathon day ... it won't take as big of a toll as the other guys.”Woods, showing no sign of the sore shoulder and neck he spoke of early in the week, hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation. He teed off on 10 and birdied three straight holes starting at the 14th, then picked up one more bogey at the par-three fourth.