Fowler follows up Open with 64

Rickie Fowler carried over his strong Sunday from the British Open with a seven-under 64 in the first round of the 3M Open in Blaine, Minn.

Fowler set the openinground pace with a bogey-free round later equaled Thursday by Jhonattan Vegas and Troy Merritt, who attended Spring Lake Park High, about six miles south of the TPC Twin Cities.

Fowler, who has never missed the FedEx Cup playoffs in 11 seasons, started the tournament ranked 124th in the standings, with the top 125 making the playoffs. There are two weeks remaining after the 3M Open to qualify for the playoffs.

“I know where I’m at, what we need to do ... ,” said Fowler, who shot 65 last Sunday at Royal St. George. “Really just focusing on things we’ve been working on, playing more consistent good golf. More days like today and things will be fine.”

Scott Stallings was trying to equal the course record of 62 before he double-bogeyed the 18th following more than a two-hour delay because of lightning in the area.

After his disappointing finish last weekend in the British Open, Louis Oosthuizen shot 68.

Champions

Darren Clarke shot a five-under 65 at Sunningdale for a share of the Senior British Open lead with James Kingston in Berkshire, England.

Clarke had six birdies and a bogey on the Old Course in the final senior major championship of the year. The 52-year-old from Northern Ireland won the British Open in 2011.

Kingston, from South Africa, had a bogey-free round. He was recently hospitalized because of COVID-19.

LPGA

American teen Yealimi Noh and Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn posted sixunder 65s to share the firstround lead at the Evian Championship in France.

Noh’s day began perfectly when she carded an eagle on the first hole. Her momentum was checked by a bogey on No. 4, but she birdied Nos. 6-7 and three more on the back nine.

New world No. 1 Nelly Korda endured a rough start to her bid for a second major title with a three-over 74.