Thomas fires 63, takes early lead at CJ Cup in South Korea
Justin Thomas eagled twice in a 9-under-par 63 to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the CJ Cup, the first U.S. PGA Tour regular-season event in South Korea. Thomas started on Thursday with a bogey at the 10th hole but made amends with eagles on the par-5 12th and 18th holes around four straight birdies from No. 14-17 to turn in 29. He added three more birdies and a bogey to hold his margin. "It was kind of a weird day," Thomas said. "It started off with a really, really bad bogey. And then I had a seven-hole stretch there where I basically kind of went unconscious. That was pretty much most of my round." Thomas set up a long eagle putt on No. 12 with a driver and a 3-wood. "That was a weird putt," Thomas said. "Jimmy and I had a hard time reading it which usually means it's pretty straight so that's how we ended up playing it." His second eagle on 18 came when he hit a wedge to three feet from the hole. Thomas won the CIMB Classic in Malaysia in 2015 and 2016 and says he is comfortable playing overseas. "It's still golf," Thomas said. "It doesn't matter where you are and I know that it is very cliche and easier said than done but you just have to take advantage of the rest and time you have off the course." Chez Reavie, Gavin Kyle Green, Scott Brown, Patrick Reed and Marc Leishman all opened with 66s and were in a five-way share of second at 6 under. Jhonattan Vegas and Charles Howell III were among five players a shot further back at 5 under. Jason Day and fellow Australian Rod Pampling were at 4 under, one stroke ahead of Pat Perez, who was coming off a victory last week at the CIMB Classic. Adam Scott had a 72 containing four birdies and four bogeys.
Eun-Hee Ji takes 3-shot lead at Taiwan Championship
Eun-Hee Ji carded a 6-under 66 to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Taiwan Championship in rainy Taipei.
Ji got off to a strong start with back-to-back birdies at the Miramar Resort and Country Club, and added four more to finish the bogey-free round clear of fellow South Koreans Sei Young Kim and Megan Khang, and Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand.
Ji, yet to win this year, didn't mind the bad weather as she hit 10 of 14 fairways.
"I changed my swings a little bit," Ji said. "My caddie is helping me a lot. It's like more information for wind and club choosing. That's everything."
Kim had five birdies and two bogeys. Ariya surprised herself in weather she didn't expect to play well in. Khang, who was paired with Stacy Lewis and Sarah Jane Smith, was satisfied given the conditions and said it helped to play with a good group.
Lydia Ko was in a group of five tied for fifth after a 70 that included three bogeys and five birdies.
Host Garcia shares lead at Valderrama Masters
Tournament host Sergio Garcia shot a 5-under 66 to grab a share of the lead at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters in the European Tour at Sotogrande, Spain.
The Spaniard had seven birdies and two bogeys at Real Club Valderrama to finish the opening day level with Joost Luiten of the Netherlands.
The 37-year-old Garcia is competing in his native Spain for the first time since winning his first major at the Masters in April.