Reuters
New Jersey, August 28: Bubba Watson charged into a tie for the first-round lead at the Barclays here Thursday while newly crowned World No.1 Jordan Spieth struggled to his worst score of the year in relation to par.
Twice Masters champion Watson used a red-hot outward nine as a springboard en route to a sizzling five-under-par 65 at Plainfield Country Club, setting the pace with fellow Americans Spencer Levin and Tony Finau, and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas.
New Zealander Danny Lee, Americans Jason Dufner, Cameron Tringale and Bryce Molder, and Britons Paul Casey and Russell Knox opened with 66s in the first of the PGA Tour’s four lucrative FedExCup playoff events.
Spieth, however, was let down by his usually stellar short game as he limped to a 74 in his first competitive round since he replaced Rory McIlroy at the top of the rankings by finishing second at the PGA Championship 11 days ago.
Spieth covered his front nine in a promising two-under 34 but then ran up five bogeys, a double at the par-three third after his tee shot found water and a lone birdie after the turn.
Left-hander Watson, who played with Spieth and PGA Championship winner Jason Day of Australia in a high-profile grouping, surged to the top of the leaderboard with five birdies in his first nine holes.
He picked up two more shots before a poor swing at the par-three sixth and a three-putt at the tricky ninth cost him two bogeys in his last four holes.
World No. 3 Day, who withdrew from Wednesday’s pro-am competition due to a back issue, opened with a 68.
