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A20 SPORTS
Friday 20 July 2018
Kisner takes lead, Carnoustie holds its own at British Open

By DOUG FERGUSON That was as easy as it got
AP Golf Writer for Koepka for the next two
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland hours. He shot 41 on the
(AP) — The silver claret jug front nine. And then he shot
was on the first tee Thurs- 31 on the back nine.
day morning at Carnoustie, “The scores probably
a trophy that Kevin Kisner weren’t as low as we antici-
knows all too well. pated, but 1 over is not the
Kisner flew home from the worst,” Koepka said. “Defi-
British Open last year with nitely didn’t shoot myself
Jordan Spieth, a flight that out of it, which very easily
was delayed while waiting could have happened.”
on Spieth to finish up his du- Sergio Garcia hit a drive
ties as the champion golfer that never stopped rolling
of the year. Just last week, on No. 10 until it dropped
Kisner was on the plane over the edge of Barry Burn.
with Spieth to Paris to see The water was shallow
the Ryder Cup course, and enough for the former Mas-
Spieth had to bring the jug ters champion to smash
along to return it to the R&A through a ball rock and
when they arrived at this water to get the club on
links along the North Sea. the ball and escape with-
“And I’m staying with him out further damage.
this week, and he no lon- Carnoustie was not kind to
ger has it,” Kisner said. “He everyone.
gave it back Monday. It Dustin Johnson, the world’s
would be cool to return the No. 1 player, managed
favor.” only one birdie in his round
Kisner played like he was of 76, his highest start in the
serious about that. Open since his debut at
He made a long eagle putt Turnberry in 2009. Masters
on the par-5 sixth. He ran champion Patrick Reed,
off three straight birdies on Hideki Matsuyama, Bubba
the back nine. Kisner fin- Watson and Garcia were
ished with a 5-under 66 be- all at 75 and now have to
fore some 60 players had worry about just getting to
even started the opening the weekend.
round, and nobody could On the longest day —
catch him. from Sandy Lyle hitting the
In what might be the easi- opening tee shot at 6:35
est conditions of the week, a.m. and the group includ-
Kisner kept the ball in play ing newcomer Bronson Bur-
and made just about ev- goon finishing off the first
erything. He took only 22 round nearly 13 hours later
putts and had a one-shot — everyone had their own
lead, giving him little more style of getting around the
than bragging rights in the course reputed to be the
house of stars where he is Kevin Kisner of the US after putting out on the 17th hole during the first round of the British Open Golf toughest links in golf.
staying, with roommates Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland, Thursday July 19, 2018. “Different players are going
that include five major Associated Press to have a different way to
champions and Rickie events, including Erik Van day, and I end up with par son (70) and Fowler (70). see how they’re going to
Fowler. Rooyen and Zander Lom- on both of those. If I just Another is Spieth, who was play this golf course,” McIl-
“The golf course is great bard of South Africa. Tony clean up those two holes in range of the lead until roy said.
for me,” Kisner said. “The Finau had eight birdies to and play them the way he made one mental error “I know Tiger is out there
conditions have been fine. offset his share of mistakes I’m supposed to play them and two bad swings while hitting a lot of irons off tees
Going forward, you never to join them at 67. with 8-iron in my hand, I dropping four shots over and doing it his own way.
know what you’re going Of the top seven on the think I’d probably have the the last four holes for a 72 No one’s going to argue
to have in Scotland. I know leaderboard, none has best round in the afternoon that didn’t do too much with him — he did it like at
the rain is coming in tomor- won a major. wave.” damage. Hoylake, and he was able
row. I don’t think the rain Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm Almost. Eleven of the 31 Even in gentle weather by to win there.”
is going to affect how the powered their way to 69s, players who broke par Scottish standards, Car- There’s one difference,
golf course is playing in one going for the green on short were in the afternoon side noustie served up its usual Woods said.
day, but I have to just keep par 4s. Tiger Woods took of the draw. dose of craziness. “Hoylake is flat. This is not,”
doing what I’m doing. If I out his driver one time and Even so, no one could real- Padraig Harrington holed Woods said. “And when
have 22 puts the next three shot 71, a round slowed by ly low. And those 31 players a short putt for par on the Hideki hits a 3-wood 400
days, I bet I’ll have a pretty a short putt he missed and who broke par were sepa- opening hole and turned to yards into a burn, you know
good shot.” a pot bunker he couldn’t rated by just four shots. leave when he saw a golf it’s kind of quick.
Carnoustie still managed to avoid. Three of Kisner’s house- ball trundle onto the green. A couple of my 6-irons went
hold its own. “I played better than mates also were under par It was the tee shot of U.S. about 240. It’s hard for peo-
One shot behind was a what the score indicates,” — PGA champion Justin Open champion Brooks Ko- ple to understand it, but it’s
collection of players with Woods said. “I had two Thomas (69), two-time ma- epka, who hit driver off the just the nature of this golf
little history in golf’s biggest 8-irons into both par 5s to- jor champion Zach John- tee to set up an easy birdie. course.”q