11-02-2019, 09:01 AM
JOHANNESBURG - Jbe Kruger and Andy Sullivan both shot a 6-under 66 to share the first-round lead at the European Tours South African Open on Thursday. China Shoes Cheap .Ernie Els was a shot behind as he searches for his first win in 19 months.Els opened 2015 with a 67 in his home town of Johannesburg, picking up three birdies in his first nine after starting on No. 10 and making his only bogey on No. 12.Els South African compatriot Kruger was bogey-free around Glendower Golf Club, while Englands Sullivan recovered from a double-bogey to ultimately card six birdies and an eagle.Els was without a top-three finish on the European Tour last year for the first time since 1992, but his crisp iron play on a course he knows well put him in early contention for a sixth South African Open title.An approach to within two feet on No. 9, his last, set up a tap-in for Els final birdie and a promising start to the new year for the four-time major champion who last won a title at the BMW International Open in June 2013.That was nice, Els said. I was a little nervous here and there but it was so nice to play Glendower in front of my home crowd.Els said he found putting a little nerve-wracking after reverting to a regular putter ahead of the banning of anchored strokes in 2016.The 45-year-old Els is now the tournament host at the South African Open and is seeking the victory that will put him behind just Gary Player, Bobby Locke and Sid Brews as the most successful player at the second oldest tournament in professional golf.He shares third with Lasse Jensen and Richard Sterne, with four other players tied for sixth after a weather delay led to a late finish for part of the field. One of those in the tie for sixth was former U.S. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who also started well with a 4-under 68 in his quest for a first South African Open title.Defending champion Morten Orum Madsen of Denmark was 1 over after a 73 that included three bogeys and a double-bogey. Yeezy From China .Sinclair, from Burnaby, B.C., led the Canadian team with three goals at the four-nation competition. She also earned tournament most valuable player honours.The Canadian captain scored on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute and added the winning goal a minute later. Jordan From China . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. https://www.chinashoes.us/ . - Jayden Hart scored once and set up two more as the Prince Albert Raiders downed the host Red Deer Rebels 5-3 on Tuesday to clinch the final Western Hockey League playoff berth.LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Tiger Woods surveyed his options from so far left of the fairway he was up to his ankles in grass in a hazard he didnt even know was there. He could take it over the trees and go sideways, but it might be tough to keep it in the fairway. "What about left gallery?" Woods asked his caddie. "Thats actually not bad," Joe LaCava replied. He wasnt trying to hit anyone -- that was just a good sight line. And it gave him the best angle to the green. But it spoke to the state of his game Thursday in the opening round of the PGA Championship. He was so wild at times that his best option was to aim at the crowd. Woods made only one birdie at Valhalla -- a chip-in from a collection area left of the 15th green -- on his way to a 3-over 74. That not only put him nine shots behind the early leaders, he was in danger of missing the cut in the PGA Championship for the second time in four years. "It wasnt very good," Woods said. "A lot of bad shots, and I never got a putt to the hole." At least he still has his health. Woods said he was a little stiff from his most recent back injury Sunday at Firestone, though he looked the same as he has since returning from March 31 back surgery that kept him out of golf for three months. But the "new normal" is nothing like the old Tiger Woods. Even before his back surgery, Woods has looked nothing like the player who won five times last year. From the middle of the 12th fairway, he came up 20 yards short of the flag on the par-4 12th and had to scramble for par. He hit a spectator in the left hip with a tee shot on the par-3 14th that was 20 yards left of his target. Woods played the back nine in 1-over 37, and then quickly went the wrong direction. He smothered his tee shot at No. 1 so far left that it was in an area marked by a hazard. He followed that with a 3-wood that was a pure hook on the par-4 second hole, and Woods knew it was in trouble. He hung his head as the ball sailed into a water hazard. He had to make a 10-foot putt just to escape with bogey. And perhaps worst of all? He even got sympathy from Phil Mickelson, his longtime foil. "I thought he played with a lot of heart,"; Mickelson said. Air Max From China. "Its not easy when your game isnt where you want it and youre hitting shots that you dont normally hit to fight hard. I thought the second hole was a great example, when he hooked it into the water. A lot of guys would just play as focused, not put it all in the next shot. He grinded out a bogey. I thought that showed a lot of heart." Woods even playing the final major of the year looked unlikely four days ago when he withdrew after eight holes at Firestone with another back injury. He hopped down into a deep bunker after playing from an awkward stance, and said it jarred his lower back. He could barely put on his shoes before leaving. Woods said it turned out to be a joint just above his sacrum, and once that was put back into place, he regained motion and was ready to go. The entire round, however, looked like a grind. Woods hit the driver nicely on the 16th and 17th, and twice more on the front nine on back-to-back scoring holes. He just didnt hit it close enough or make the putts. The best putts he made all day were for par (No. 6) and bogey (No. 2). The par-5 seventh hole summed up his day. The two fairways are divided by a water hazard, and only the confident players -- such as Rory McIlroy -- go down the left side and shorten the approach. Woods rehearsed his swing four times, aimed to the right and hit a huge slice that went over the gallery, off a cart path and through a gap in the fence toward a parking area. He originally though it was out-of-bounds. It landed in a "Phone Zone," and Woods was given line-of-sight relief from the fence. He hit 3-wood off the matted grass, through a gap in the gallery just short of the green. He played a delicate pitch-and-run to a front pin position. And he missed a 7-footer for birdie. He talked about winning the PGA Championship, ending more than six years without a major. He was still thinking that way after his round, even though only 16 players from the morning groups -- seven of them club pros -- had higher scores. "If I get under par for two rounds, that will be right in the ball game," Woods said. Based on his play Thursday -- all year, really -- thats a big "if." ' ' '