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Friday 11 May 2018
Dustin Johnson part of 6-way tie for lead at Players

By DOUG FERGUSON tle bit, like messing around
AP Golf Writer with it. I’m very pleased
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. with the way I putted to-
(AP) — Tiger Woods and Phil day.”
Mickelson delivered plenty Rookies and veterans alike
of entertainment Thursday were in the group at 67.
at The Players Champion- The rookie was Keith Mitch-
ship. ell, who didn’t even know
The lead belonged to just he was in the field until
about everyone else. Paul Casey withdrew on
Dustin Johnson and Matt Wednesday.
Kuchar were among six Mitchell birdied his open-
players who shared the ing four holes, made seven
lead at 6-under 66 in ideal birdies over his first 11 holes
scoring conditions, creat- and was slowed only by a
ing the largest logjam ever double bogey on the par-3
at the TPC Sawgrass and third.
the most players tied at The veteran was 51-year-
the top at The Players in 40 old Steve Stricker, who
years. still can’t decide whether
“If you’re on your game, to hang his hat in the big
this course suits you,” leagues or the senior cir-
Kuchar said. cuit. He was irritated by a
That’s been the story of late bogey and failing to
the TPC Sawgrass over birdie the par-5 ninth, set-
the years — a design that Dustin Johnson hits from the 11th tee during the first round of The Players Championship golf tling for a 67.
doesn’t favor one particu- tournament Thursday, May 10, 2018, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. That was enough to remind
lar style of play. That notion Associated Press him he can still challenge
was on overdrive in warm brought out thousands of mild breeze, still enough to way. Johnson only gave the best.
sunshine and moderate sun-soaked fans. make even the best look himself a few reasonable “I’m not surprised,” Stricker
wind, conditions so ideal “Toward the back nine, foolish. chances the rest of the said. “I expect to play well.”
that 12 players were sepa- it started getting a little Johnson played like he was way, though he was more So did Woods, even after
rated by one shot after sparse,” Woods said. “I think determined to keep that than happy with his 66. It his putting woes last week
the opening round, and 68 they might have tipped No. 1 ranking, which he was his best score ever on at Quail Hollow. Back on
players in the 144-man field back a couple and got a could lose if he finishes 12th the Stadium Course, and putting surfaces he knows,
broke par. little sleepy.” or worse. And he putted only his fourth time in the Woods made a number of
Woods wasn’t among Or maybe they were just like he was fed up with not 60s. key putts.
them. He shot 72 in his first bored. seeing enough go in. “I was just not making Except for an 18-footer just
time at The Players since All the action was all He tried the “AimPoint” enough putts,” Johnson off the green at No. 9 for
in three years. Neither was around them. method that some players said. “It’s definitely helped. eagle, however, most of
Mickelson, who had three Kuchar, Chesson Hadley use to help them read the Because I’m a feel put- them were for par.
double bogeys on the and Patrick Cantlay each greens. He liked the results. ter, anyway, and so the There was also a 10-footer
back nine and shot 79. got to 7 under until late Johnson started on No. 10 way you’re doing it re- to escape with bogey on
Rickie Fowler rounded out bogeys. Johnson, Alex No- and went out in 31, and ally is you’re just feeling. the 18th hole after he put
the threesome and shot ren and Webb Simpson when he rolled in a 10-foot So it definitely works. I was his iron off the tee into the
74. They were the feature each shot 66 in the morn- birdie putt on the par-5 pretty good the first time I water. Woods hit only five
group in the afternoon that ing when there was only a second hole, he was on his switched. I had done it a lit- fairways.q

Giovinco tops MLS salaries at $7.1M; Ibrahimovic at $1.5M

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — To- Toronto midfielder Michael land midfielder Diego
ronto’s Sebastian Giovinco Bradley is second this year Valeri ($2.32 million, $2.38
has taken over as Major ($6 million salary, $6.5 mil- million), Seattle midfielder
League Soccer’s highest- lion total compensation), Nicolas Lodeiro ($1.8 mil-
paid player, and new LA followed by Los Angeles FC lion, $2,302,500), Atlanta
Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibra- forward Carlos Vela ($4.5 midfielder Miguel Almiron
himovic earns a relatively million, $6,292,500), Chica- ($1,912,500, $2,297,000),
modest $1.5 million. go midfielder Bastian Sch- forward Yura Movsisyan (on
Giovinco, the Italian for- weinsteiger ($6.1 million), loan from Salt Lake to Swe-
ward who joined Toronto in LA Galaxy forward Giovani den’s Djurgardens; $1.85
2015, has a $5.6 million sal- dos Santos ($4.25 million, $6 million, $2,073,750), LA Gal-
ary and $7,115,556 in total million), New York City for- axy midfielder Jonathan
compensation, according ward David Villa ($5.61 mil- dos Santos ($2 million) and
to figures released Thurs- lion) and Toronto forward New York City midfielder
day by the MLS Players As- Jozy Altidore ($5 million). Maxi Moralez ($2 million).
sociation. That is the same Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco reacts after being fouled Montreal midfielder Ig- Forty-six players have total
as his totals last year, when by a Seattle Sounders player during the first half of an MLS soccer nacio Piatti was next compensation of $1 million
Orlando’s Kaka topped the match Wednesday, May 9, 2018, in Toronto. ($500,000, $4,713,444), fol- or more, an increase from
league with a $6.6 million Associated Press lowed by Colorado goal- 28 in the initial list last year
base salary and total earn- a prorated share of com- a specific year. Kaka retired keeper Tim Howard ($2 and from 23 in the first 2016
ings of $7,167,500, including pensation not specified to at the end of last season. million, $2,475,000), Port- list.q