WASHINGTON — Former champion Chris Kirk took the first-round lead at the RSM Classic in coastal Georgia on Thursday, as two-times American Ryder Cup member Brandt Snedeker made a solid comeback after a long injury absence.
Kirk wielded a hot putter to run off seven birdies before capping his day with an eagle at the par-five 18th for a nine-under-par 63 on the Plantation Course at Sea Island Resort.
He leads fellow American Joel Dahmen by one stroke. Leader Kirk said he had enjoyed one of those joyful days on the greens that golfers dream of.
"This is the first time in a while it doesn’t feel forced," the 2013 champion said of his putting. "I’m just looking at it, lining it up and whacking it. That’s where we all aspire to be so it’s nice to have that feeling for a change."
Most of the good scores were carded at the Plantation, the easier of the two courses being played, with Nick Watney and Brice Garnett best on the Seaside course at five-under 65.
Snedeker had a 67 on the Seaside as he ended a frustrating run on the sidelines with a sternum injury that he said had prompted him to consult no less than 15 specialists for what was diagnosed as an unstable sternum joint.
The 36-year-old, an eight-times winner on the PGA Tour, had not played since experiencing severe pain during his swing that forced him to pull out of the British Open on the eve of the tournament in July.
He opted not to undergo surgery for his injury, preferring instead to let his body heal naturally, with assistance from a new diet free of carbohydrates and sugar.
Former No. 1 Donald in
hospital after heart scare
Former world No. 1 Luke Donald was admitted to a Georgia hospital after feeling prolonged chests pains, the English golfer said in a social media post on Thursday.
Donald was scheduled to play the PGA Tour's RSM Classic but pulled out before the first round in Sea Island and later used Instagram to post a picture of himself wearing a hospital gown.
"Well that wasn't quite the finish to my year I had in mind!!" he wrote.
"Had some chest pain last night and into this morning & it kept getting worse. After some medical advice, I had to withdraw & was shipped off to the hospital to get my heart looked at. After 7 hours of tests all looks good with my heart thankfully."
Smith, Chien share
CME Group lead
Sarah Jane Smith and Peiyun Chien posted 6-under 66s Thursday in the first round of the LPGA's season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla. Smith and Chien are both seeking for their first LPGA victories and completed bogey-free rounds at Tiburon golf Club.
Smith carded the lowest round of her career. The 33-year-old Australian opened with five straight pars but began moving towards the lead by hitting an eagle at the par-5 sixth hole.
"I holed some nice putts," Smith said. "It was a bit rough in the beginning, but (I) holed some nice putts for par and sort of kept it going, and then made some good birdies coming in."
Smith has only missed four cuts but also struggled in the latter rounds of tournaments, finishing with two top-10 finishes. She is optimistic something in her swing can help her get a tournament victory.
Chien, a 27-year-old rookie from Chinese Taipei, finished with the second-lowest round of career. Her lowest round was the opening round 64 at the Marathon Classic when she finished third for her only top-10 finish on the LPGA tour.
Smith and Chien hold a one-stroke lead over Suzann Petterson, Karine Icher, Lydia Ko, Azahara Munoz and Sung Hyun Park. Park hit a pair of birdies on the closing stretch. She only needs to win the final LPGA event to win the CME Race to the Globe and the $1 million bonus.
Park is trying to become the first rookie since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to all the major awards. She already won rookie of the year.
Ko, who is seeking her first victory in 35 events, made a 15-foot eagle putt on the par-5 17th and then made par with a shot from the bunker on the final hole.
Lexi Thompson, who leads the Race to the CME Globe, finished with a 1-under 71, putting her five strokes behind the leaders. — Reuters
