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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 9 June 2018
Dustin Johnson shoots 7-under 63 to grab lead at St. Jude

By TERESA M. WALKER Johnson also had a 63 in gear after making the turn.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — the second round of the Johnson holed out a sand
Dustin Johnson wants to World Golf Championships- wedge from 111 yards on
sharpen his game for the HSBC last October to kick the par-4 No. 1 for eagle
U.S. Open. Moving back to off this season. He won the and nearly holed out again
No. 1 in the world would just Tournament of Champions on No. 2 from 114 yards,
be a nice bonus because in January and followed tapping in from 9 inches for
the only way he can do with a tie for second at birdie. He two-putted from
that before Shinnecock Hills Pebble Beach in February. 29 feet on the par-5 No. 3
is by winning the St. Jude He has three top 10s and and drained a 16-footer
Classic. tied for eighth last week at for birdie on No. 6. Johnson
Johnson knows what he Memorial. saved par with a 7-footer
wants. A winner here in 2012, John- after chipping out of the
"I just want to win," Johnson son is back here looking for bunker on No. 8.
said. 18th career title while tun- And Johnson became the
Johnson shot 7-under 63 for ing up for the U.S. Open he first to hit 10 under after
his lowest round this year won in 2016. He hit every- hitting his second shot 159
and grabbed a one-stroke thing well from a 3-wood yards on No. 9 to 6 feet for
lead Friday after 36 holes at that went 316 yards off the a final birdie .
the St. Jude Classic. He had tee to his irons to putter. Snedeker, who lives in
four of his seven birdies and "I feel like I'm playing re- Nashville, Tennessee,
an eagle on his back nine ally well," Johnson said. "I'm hadn't played this event
for a 29 and finished with a swinging the club very well. three hours away from his
10-under 130 total. I know if I can drive it in the home in five years and
Ryan Blaum and Andrew fairway that I'm going to none of his eight PGA Tour
Putnam each shot 64 and give myself a good look for victories have been at the
were tied second, and C.T. birdie. I felt I did that pretty TPC Southwind. Snede-
Pan (65) and Wesley Bryan much all day today and hit ker turned in a bogey-free
(66) followed at 8 under. Dustin Johnson gestures towards fans after finishing the ninth a lot of great shots in there round with eight birdies
Brandt Snedeker shot his hole during the first round of the S. Jude Classic golf tournament and had a lot of really needing only 22 putts.
best round this year with a in Memphis, Tenn., Friday, June 8, 2018. good looks at birdies." "It obviously went pretty
62 that was one stroke off Associated Press At 3 under, Johnson well," said Snedeker, the
the course record. He was opened with a 6-foot birdie 2012 FedExCup champ. "It's
at 7 under. champ Daniel Berger (71- times in April and May com- putt on No. 10 only to bo- one of those days you like
Irishman Seamus Power, 141) missed the cut. bined prompted his deci- gey Nos. 12 and 13 after to have. You don't have
who came in with a one- Johnson spent 64 weeks sion to play here before go- hitting into the rough. He them very often out here
stroke lead, shot a 69 to atop the world ranking un- ing to Shinnecock Hills. bounced right back by roll- where the hole looks like
reach 6 under. Defending til Justin Thomas made the "Just wanted to play, stay ing in a 21-foot birdie putt it's the size of a beach ball
U.S. Open champ Brooks cut at the Players Champi- sharp," Johnson said. "I like on the par-3 No. 14. He and can't miss a putt."
Koepka (69) was at 5 un- onship in May and grabbed this golf course, and I feel holed out from the right Notes: Putnam has just one
der, and Phil Mickelson (70) the top spot to himself. like I play it well and wanted front bunker for birdie on bogey through two rounds.
was at 4 under. Johnson said the course to be on top of my game the par-5 No. 16. ... John Daly withdrew be-
Two-time defending and not playing only four going into next week, too." His round really clicked into fore the second round. q

Alex Morgan scores, U.S. women beat China 1-0

night. as a sub. the roster for the teams' last
The teams also will meet Heath hasn't played with two matches because she
Tuesday night in Cleveland. the national team since was not on a club team at
China has already qualified appearing as a substitute the time, were both used as
for the 2019 World Cup in in a friendly against New subs. Press, who was traded
France. The United States, Zealand last September. to the Houston Dash in the
the defending World Cup She had surgery to remove offseason but never joined
champion, is preparing for bone growth on her right the National Women's
CONCACAF qualifying in ankle in early January. Soccer League club, has
October. She has returned to play for been playing in Sweden
Megan Rapinoe fed her club team, the Portland with Goteborg.
Morgan with a well-placed Thorns. Forward Alex Morgan wore
free kick that Morgan Also returning to the the captain's armband, but
popped past China national team is Julie Ertz, gave it to Carli Lloyd when
goalkeeper Peng Shimeng. who missed a pair of April she subbed in for Rapinoe
Morgan has 13 goals in her exhibition matches against after Morgan's goal.
last 14 appearances with Mexico because of a knee Crystal Dunn played three
China defender Lin Yuping and U.S. forward Alex Morgan watch the national team. It was injury. Ertz started against different positions in the
the ball during an international friendly soccer match in Sandy,
Utah, Thursday, June 7, 2018. Morgan's 86th international China. game.
Associated Press goal. Amy Rodriguez, who Ly Ying's hard strike in the
Midfielder Tobin Heath was missed 2016 because of 34th minute was saved by
SANDY, Utah (AP) — Alex and the U.S. national brought into camp for the the birth of her son and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
Morgan scored on a team beat China 1-0 in an game, but was not in the 2017 with an ACL injury, Attendance was
header in the 57th minute exhibition match Thursday starting lineup or available and Christen Press, left off announced at 13,230.q