GREENSBORO, N.C. - Chris Stroud doesn’t want any rust in his game for the PGA Tour’s playoffs. Ross Fisher just wants to make it that far.
Stroud and Fisher each shot 6-under 64 on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the Wyndham Championship.
Eight players - defending champion Sergio Garcia, Matt Jones, Robert Garrigus, Jordan Spieth, Trevor Immelman, Morgan Hoffman, Patrick Reed and Andrew Svoboda - shot 65.
John Senden and Stuart Appleby were among the five players at 66 at the final tournament before golf’s postseason begins next week.
Bryce Molder (Conway) had two birdies and an eagle for a 4-under 66 and is tied for 11th place. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) had four birdies and one bogey for a 3-under 67 and is tied for 16th.
Tag Ridings (Razorbacks) five birdies and five bogeys for an even-par round of 70. David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) had a birdie, an eagle, five bogeys and a double bogey for a 4-over 74.
Stroud had eight birdies during his best round of the year, which came at the Donald Ross-designed course that had vexed him through the previous five years.
“I’ve even told people I love this golf course,” Stroud said. “I have no idea why I don’t play well here.”
Stroud could have skipped this week and rested up for the playoffs. He arrived at No. 48 on the points list and - unlike so many other players here this week - is assured of a spot in the playoff field.
He has played this tournament every year since the crosstown move but made it to the weekend only once - tying for 73rd last year.
Stroud missed the cut at PGA Championship by a stroke, then said he told his caddie, “I’ve got to play next week. … I’m playing too well to go home and just sit and get rusty. I said I want to get sharp for The Barclays. Let’s go to Greensboro, low expectations since I haven’t played that great here.”
Fisher, a four-time winner on the European Tour who’s a rookie on the PGA Tour and at No. 162 on the points list, was in the day’s final threesome to start on the back nine, and he made his climb late.
“My manager said, ‘You’ve got nothing to lose. Just go out there all guns blazing and see what happens,’” Fisher said. “I know what I’ve got to do, and I’ve just got to go enjoy it, and if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. … I don’t want it to end here.”
Fisher eagled the par-5 fifth when he landed his approach shot about 7 feet from the flagstick and sank the ensuing putt, then joined Stroud at 6 under two holes later with a 30-foot birdie putt. He could have overtaken him, but missed a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 8 before pushing a 40-foot birdie putt a few inches wide on No. 9.
Garcia, who claimed a two-stroke victory here last year, hit 17 greens during his bogey-free round. He is trying to become the first player since Sam Snead in the 1950s to win this tournament in consecutive years.
“It was a great round today, but it’s only Thursday,” Garcia said.
WEB.COM
Putnam leads again
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Michael Putnam, a two-time winner this season, and Tim Wilkinson were tied for the lead Thursday after the first round of the News Sentinel Open. Each had a 6-under 65.
If Putnam were to win the event, he would get an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour. His 65 was a career-low round for the event, bettering the 67 he shot in the first round of the 2009 tournament.
Byron Smith, Nate Smith and Blayne Barber shared third place after rounds of 5-under 66.
Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) had four birdies and three bogeys for a 1-under 70. He is in a group tied for 53rd.Leaderboard PGA WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP At Sedgefield Country Club Course Greensboro, N.C.
Purse: $5.3 million Par 70 (35-35), 7,127 yards First of four rounds Chris Stroud .........................32-32-64 Ross Fisher ..........................31-33-64 Matt Jones ...........................33-32-65 Robert Garrigus ...................33-32-65 Andrew Svoboda ..................30-35-65 Jordan Spieth .......................32-33-65 Sergio Garcia ........................33-32-65 Trevor Immelman.................31-34-65 Morgan Hoffman ..................34-31-65 Patrick Reed .........................33-32-65 ARKANSANS Bryce Molder ........................33-33-66 Scott Gardiner ......................32-35-67 Tag Ridings ..........................35-35-70 David Lingmerth ..................36-38-74 - More scores, page 7C
Sports, Pages 23 on 08/16/2013