Wie closes strong, leads Women’s British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Finishing fast after a slow start, Michelle Wie birdied her last three holes Thursday for an 8-under-par 64 for a one-shot lead in the Women’s British Open.

Wie bogeyed the par-5 second hole at Kingsbarns Links, and that was the last of her mistakes. The 27-year-old shot 30 on the back nine and wound up one shot ahead of I.K. Kim of South Korea.

Lindy Duncan was another shot behind at 66, with Lexi Thompson among those at 67.

Wie, showing no sign of the neck spasms that forced her to withdraw from last month’s U.S Women’s Open, posted nine birdies during a morning round played in almost perfect weather.

■ At Akron, Ohio, Thomas Pieters rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on his final hole for a 5-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the Bridgestone Invitational.

Russell Knox had a 66 with a bogey on his final hole. Rory Mcilroy got by fine with his best friend as his caddie, opening with a 67, his lowest opening round

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in America since February 2016. Mcilroy split with his caddie of nine years after the British Open.

Jordan Spieth also was at 67, along with Kevin Kisner, Bubba Watson, Jon Rahm and Ross Fisher.

■ At Reno, John Huh made his eighth birdie on his final hole to finish with 15 points and take the first-round lead in the Barracuda Championship.

Huh had a one-point lead over Stuart Appleby and Miguel Angel Carballo of Argentina under the modified Stableford format at Montreaux Golf and Country Club.

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