fb-pixelGolf roundup: Ryan Palmer leads Colonial after 62 - The Boston Globe Skip to main content
golf roundup

Golf roundup: Ryan Palmer leads Colonial after 62

Ryan Palmer hit12 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation.LM OTERO/associated press

Ryan Palmer was standing in the fairway on his last hole Thursday in Fort Worth when his longtime caddie and fellow Colonial member issued a challenge.

James Edmondson, who won his third Colonial club championship last year, told Palmer that a birdie would match the caddie’s low round at Hogan’s Alley.

‘‘What do you do when you get that thrown at you,’’ Palmer said.

Palmer hit his approach to 5 feet at the 388-yard ninth hole for an 8-under 62 that matched the lowest PGA Tour first round at Colonial. That put him a stroke ahead of John Rollins, who had his best round this season.

Advertisement



For all the rounds Palmer has played at Colonial, where he has been a full dues-paying member since 2010, he had never had such a low score. He generally plays there two or three times a week during the offseason and once or twice during weeks he’s not playing the PGA Tour.

‘‘These old men here make me grind because I have to give them so many shots. Maybe that helps,’’ Palmer said, smiling. ‘‘Usually in a practice round, I don’t think I’ve shot below 65. You just don’t grind a lot. In this situation, you grind a little harder.”

Graham DeLaet, wearing pants with a plaid design similar to the jacket Colonial winners get, matched Morgan Hoffmann, David Hearn, and John Peterson at 64. Matt Kuchar, No. 13 in the world ranking and the highest-ranked player in the 136-man invitational field, was in a group of six players at 65.

European — At Virginia Water, England, James Kingston shot a 6-under 66 to take the lead during the suspended first round of the BMW PGA Championship.

Afternoon play was delayed for about 90 minutes because of the threat of lightning and five groups were still on the course when the round was suspended for the day because of darkness.

Advertisement



Mikko Ilonen opened with a 67, and Scott Henry and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano shot 68. Martin Wiegele also was 4 under with five holes left.

Sergio Garcia opened with a 72. Rory McIlroy bogeyed five of the last six holes for a 74, and playing partner Graeme McDowell, coming off a victory Sunday in Bulgaria in the Volvo World Match Play, also had a 74. McIlroy had 33 putts. Ian Poulter finished with a 76, and two-time defending champion Luke Donald had a 78.

Champions — Jay Haas and Duffy Waldorf shared the first-round lead in the Senior PGA Championship, shooting 5-under 66 at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.

Sonny Skinner, the PGA head professional at River Pointe Golf Club in Albany, Ga., was a stroke back along with Japan’s Kiyoshi Murota. Defending champion Roger Chapman opened with a 72.

.   .   .

Tim Clark has been anchoring his putter to his chest since turning pro in 1998. But now that the US Golf Association and the R&A have banned anchoring the club to the body when a player makes a stroke beginning in 2016, Clark may seek legal action.

“We’re not going to roll over and just accept this,” Clark told USA Today. “We will look into all options. We have been put into a position where we have to fight for our livelihoods. We will do what we need to do.”

Clark acknowledged his legal counsel is Harry Manion of Boston, who told USA Today that he also represents PGA Tour pro Carl Pettersson.

Advertisement



.   .   .

European Tour CEO George O’Grady apologized for using the term ‘‘colored’’ during a live TV interview Thursday in which he was reacting to the spat between Tiger Woods and Garcia.

O’Grady said that ‘‘most of Sergio’s friends are colored athletes in the United States.’’

The word ‘‘colored’’ was once widely used in the US to refer to African-Americans but it is now antiquated and offensive. In some African countries, it is used to denote individuals of mixed racial ancestry.

‘‘I deeply regret using an inappropriate word in a live interview . . . for which I unreservedly apologize,’’ O’Grady said.