LEADER HATTON COPES WITH JET LAG
Tyrrell Hatton felt grumpy from not getting much sleep, and then he felt he was in a dream when he was 5 under through the opening five holes of the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in North Las Vegas, Nev.
The reality of Thursday was that even coming off an emotional win at Wentworth and a long trip from London across eight time zones, Hatton hasn’t lost his touch. He tied the course record of 7-under 65 for a one-shot lead.
“It’s fair to say I’m pretty tired at the moment,” Hatton said. “Still struggling a little bit with jet lag. As you can tell by my voice, picked up a little bit of a sore throat on the way over. Today was a long day. Very happy with my score, and I just need to try and get back to the hotel, have a good rest and hopefully sleep better than I did last night.
“And fingers crossed for another good day.”
Hatton posted the lowest competitive round at Shadow Creek, mainly because this is the first PGA Tour event at the
prestigious club. Dustin Johnson, not playing this week because of a positive test result for the coronavirus, had a 65 during a casual round in 2015.
San Diegan Xander Schauffele birdied the par-5 18th for a 66 and was one shot behind, along with Russell Henley. Jon Rahm and Tyler Duncan were another shot behind.
Rory McIlroy bogeyed his last three holes, a streak that began with him missing a 3foot par putt, for a 73.
Brooks Koepka, in his first tournament since taking two months off to heal an ailing left hip, showed plenty of signs of rust. He closed with a short iron into the water on the par-5 18th for a bogey and a 74.
Mickelson preps for Masters
Phil Mickelson will begin his preparation for the Masters in earnest today at a place, and on a tour, not typically associated with the regimen required to win a major.
The lefthander is making his second start on the PGA Tour Champions in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic at the Country Club of Virginia’s somewhat forgiving James River course in Richmond.
Mickelson will be paired with fellow tour rookie Jim Furyk and defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, who shot a 9-under 63 on a soft course in the final round last year to win on the circuit for the best golfers aged 50 and over.
Elsewhere
Adrian Otaegui started his round with three straight birdies and then just kept going, shooting a 10-under 62 to take a three-shot lead after the first round of the European Tour’s Scottish Championship at Fife, Scotland.
Notable
Charles Barkley will participate in the third version of “The Match,” but this time he’s bringing not only his mouth but his actual golf swing — that herky-jerky, full-body spasm that seems to defy all physics and annually sends him to the bottom of celebrity tournament leader boards. Barkley will join Mickelson, Peyton Manning and new participant Stephen Curry for “The Match 3” on Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving.
The Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and Women’s Australian Open, which were scheduled for February, have been canceled amid continuing concerns over the coronavirus.