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A16 SPORTS
Saturday 19 September 2020
Reed takes the lead as the real U.S. Open gets started

MAMARONECK, N.Y. (AP) golf he loves. It's a grind.
— This was the Winged Foot And it's about feel. He was
everyone has heard about. most pleased with his bird-
This is the U.S. Open every- ie on No. 1 after he made
one expected. the turn, going with a chip
Patrick Reed answered the 8-iron from 147 yards into
first big test Friday when the wind and riding the
the wind arrived out of the slope at the back of the
north, bringing a little chill green to tap-in range.
and a lot of trouble. He "I love when it's hard, when
never got flustered by bo- you have to be creative on
geys and made enough all different golf shots," he
birdie putts and key saves said.
for an even-par 70. There were plenty of great
It felt just as rewarding as rounds on such a demand-
the 66 he shot in the open- ing course, many of which
ing round, and it gave him fell apart at the end. Louis
a one-shot lead over mus- Oosthuizen was 3 under in
cleman Bryson DeCham- the morning when he fin-
beau, who powered and ished bogey-bogey-dou-
putted his way to a 68. ble bogey for a 74. Xander
The opening round fea- Schauffele was 3 under un-
tured soft greens, a few ac- til he bogeyed three of his
cessible pins and 21 rounds Patrick Reed, of the United States, plays a shot off the second fairway during the second round of last five holes.
under par. Friday was the the US Open Golf Championship, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Mamaroneck, N.Y. "The wind can make a par-
epitome of a major long Associated Press 3 course difficult, so put
known as the toughest test that on a U.S. Open setup,
in golf. of the day with a pitching "I'm not going to worry He missed the cut by four it's going to be even more
Three players broke par. wedge on the downwind, about what everyone else shots, the eighth time in his so," Schauffele said. "It'll be
Nine others shot even par. 557-yard, par-5 ninth to 6 is doing because you could last 15 majors he won't be a fun afternoon to watch
Everyone else was hanging feet for eagle. shoot 80 just as easily as you around for the weekend. on TV."
on for dear life. As the final Rafa Cabrera-Bello of could shoot 68. I just need "It feels like the way the Rory McIlroy's problems
groups tried to beat dark- Spain and Harris English to stay focused, and most golf course is changing, is started early. He was 5
ness in this September U.S. each had a 70 and were at importantly, go home and turning, that anybody who over through seven holes,
Open, only six players re- 2-under 138. get some rest. Because I'm makes the cut has the op- including a birdie at the
mained in red numbers. They were joined by Jus- pretty tired." portunity to win this cham- start, and shot 76 to fall
"It's almost like they set it up tin Thomas, who opened There's still 36 holes to go, pionship," Woods said. "I seven shots behind. Dustin
to ease our way into it, and with a 65 — the lowest ever and no indication that didn't get myself that op- Johnson was bogey-free
then showed us what it's at Winged Foot for a U.S. Winged Foot is going to get portunity." through 16 holes until a pair
supposed to really be like," Open — and lost all those any easier. Neither did Phil Mickelson, of bad tee shots led to bo-
Reed said. shots to par after 10 holes. "The rough is still really thick. who had his highest 36-hole gey. He had a 70 and was
Television showed his five Thomas then delivered a I don't think they're plan- score in 29 appearances in the group at 3-over 143.
birdies. What took him to 5-wood from 228 yards into ning on cutting it," Matthew in the one major he hasn't All of them still feel as
the 36-hole lead at 4-un- the wind on the par-3 third Wolff said after salvaging won. Ditto for Jordan Spi- though the U.S. Open is in
der 136 was a collection of hole and made a slick, 15- a 74 that left him four shots eth, whose 81 was his high- sight.
pars from bunkers and from foot, double-breaking bird- behind. "The greens are est score in a major. PGA "I'm confident now, after
thick grass just over the ie putt to steady himself. He only going to get firmer, champion Collin Morikawa seeing what was out there
greens. He managed them scratched out a 73 and is and the scores are only go- missed an 8-foot birdie putt this afternoon, over par will
all with grit, a common trait right in it. ing to get higher." on the final hole that cost win this tournament," Adam
among U.S. Open champi- Jason Kokrak (71) was the Tiger Woods is among him a chance to keep Scott said a 74 left him nine
ons. only other player under par those who won't be around playing. shots back. "The greens fi-
DeChambeau showed at 1-under 139. to experience it. He had a Reed turned in a workman- nally dried out. If there's
plenty of resiliency, too, "This isn't exactly a place pair of double bogeys at like performance, making any breeze, over par is win-
bouncing back with birdies where you go out and try the end of the back nine, birdies when he had the ning."
after all five of his bogeys to shoot 6 or 7 under to and two birdies over his last chance, saving par when It usually does at Winged
and finishing the best round catch up," Thomas said. three holes gave him a 77. needed. This is the kind of Foot.q

Falcons launch voting initiative in social media campaign

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) training camp. The Falcons' post. "We challenge you, "We're the Dallas Cowboys Prescott then challenges
— The Atlanta Falcons are Social Justice Committee the Cowboys, to do the and we accept your chal- the Seattle Seahawks —
trying to make sure people issued a challenge to the same." lenge," quarterback Dak Dallas' opponent in Week
are registered to vote by Dallas Cowboys — Atlan- Quarterback Matt Ryan Prescott says while catch- 3 — to do the same be-
launching a social media ta's opponent Sunday — then throws a football off- ing a football from off- fore tossing the football off
campaign. on Twitter on Friday. screen and the Falcons screen. screen again.
The team's "Pass The Vote" "Hey, America's Team, we logo along with "Rise Up & A few of Prescott's team- NFL players will also be in-
initiative was developed the Falcons are committing Vote" appears. mates say, "Don't forget to dividually recording their
by offensive lineman Chris to getting as many people The Cowboys received the vote" before the quarter- own video challenges and
Lindstrom and defensive to register to vote this year," challenge and accepted it back adds: "And we stand post to their social media
end Steven Means during Lindstrom said in the video in a video post of their own. to end racism." accounts.q