Poulter shoots 62 at Firestone

Englishman leads by one. Woods has a 66, his best first round of the year on one of his favorite courses.

Ian Poulter has never had much success at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, until he opened with an eight-under 62 Thursday. That was four shots better than Tiger Woods, who plays well at Firestone all the time.

Poulter was motivated by reading over his results and realizing he has never finished better than a tie for 13th. He made eight birdies in soft, vulnerable conditions and saved par from the bunker on his final hole to build a one-shot lead over Rickie Fowler and Patrick Cantlay.

Back at Firestone for the first time in four years, Woods had his lowest opening round of the year. He shot a 66, but on a day like this, it was needed just to keep pace.

Forty-five players in the 71-man field broke par.

Ollie Schniederjans scored five points with a closing eagle to take a three-point lead in the Barracuda Championship, the PGA Tour’s only modified Stableford scoring event, in Reno.

Minjee Lee shot a seven-under 65, including a right-to-left putt for eagle from 25 feet on the par-five 15th hole, to lead by one stroke after the first round at the Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham.

Mamiko Higa was a shot behind after a 66.

Phil Mickelson confirmed a report that an exhibition match against Woods is set for Thanksgiving weekend at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.