Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Friday 25 august 2017

Northern Trust

Continued from Page 17 66, and it was an important
Seven of them were from start for Villegas and Kirk.
12 feet or closer, a testa- The top 100 in the FedEx
ment to how well he was Cup after this week ad-
playing. He also chipped in vance to the second play-
from 80 feet. off event at the TPC Boston.
“I don’t know what the key Kirk is at No. 97, Villegas is
is, or the secret,” Henley one spot behind. It was
said. even better for a few play-
“I just tried to hit the fairway, ers who opened with a 67,
make sure I hit the green such as Bubba Watson (No.
when I was in the fairway, 113), Martin Flores (No. 118)
and the greens are great and Harold Varner III (No.
and I rolled in a couple of 123).
putts.” Flores only got into the top
Scott Brown, Camilo Ville- 125 by finishing with an
gas and Chris Kirk were at ace, a par and a birdie at

Alex leads at Ottawa

Hunt; Canadian star Dustin Johnson hits from the bunker on the second hole during the second round of the PGA
Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlotte,
N.C.
Henderson struggles Associated Press

the Wyndham Champion- early before he rallied for bogeys on the back nine
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — ship. a 68. and shot 73.
Marina Alex shot a 5-under Phil Mickelson, meanwhile, In his first start since his two- Johnson switched to a Tay-
66 on Thursday to take the needs to see a score much shot victory at Quail Hol- lorMade Spider putter dur-
lead in the Canadian Pa- better than his 72, which low, Thomas was not intro- ing the playoffs last year,
cific Women’s Open, while featured two straight bird- duced on the tee as the and he stuck with that up
Canadian star Brooke Hen- ies at the end but also a PGA champion. until returning this week
derson was in danger of pair of double bogeys. “After the drive I hit, I’m and going back to what
missing the cut after a 74. Mickelson has played in ev- kind of glad they didn’t,” he used when he won the
Alex had four birdies on her ery Presidents Cup or Ryder he said. U.S. Open last summer at
opening nine — the back Cup since 1994, and he is He hit it on the toe of the Oakmont.
nine at Ottawa Hunt — and in danger of being left out driver, a duck-hook that “I got a little bit more feel
added two birdies and a of the Presidents Cup next he says would have gone with the putter instead of
bogey on her second nine. month at Liberty National. about 130 yards. the Spider I was using,” he
The American is winless on U.S. captain Steve Stricker He was exaggerating. said.
the PGA Tour. “I got off to Marina Alex acknowledges has said he needs to see It went 221 yards after it “I was getting a little bit
a great start,” Alex said. applause after making a shot signs from the five-time ma- clanged out of the trees too mechanical and I was
“Then the conditions start- on the eighth hole during first jor champion, and Mickel- and into the fairway, leav- worrying about too many
round play at the Canadian
ed to pick up a little bit. The Pacific Women’s Open in son knows that. ing him a 2-iron to the things when I was putting
wind picked up. It started Ottawa, Thursday, Aug. 24, “I would love to be on that green when most players instead of just putting.”
to get tough definitely the 2017. team, but I’ve got to bring are hitting a wedge or short He ran a long birdie putt
second nine, so I kind of Associated Press something to the table,” iron. some 15 feet by the hole at
just held in there the best I bit.” Henderson, from near- Mickelson said. British Open champion Jor- No. 2 and three-putted for
could.” She had 28 putts. by Smiths Falls, struggled PGA champion Justin dan Spieth had a 69, while bogey.
“Putted unbelievably well on the greens. She had 32 Thomas, still sluggish from a Hideki Matsuyama, the No. After that, his speed was
today,” Alex said. “I rolled putts. “I hit the ball for the busy week of trying to deal 1 seed going into the PGA better and his game was
it so good. I hope I can majority extremely well and with his new status as major Tour’s version of the post- sharp.
just carry that into the next just the putter kind of let me champion, wasn’t expect- season, didn’t make a bird- The 65 was his best round
couple days and just tidy down at times,” Henderson ing much out of his game ie and opened with a 74. since a 64 in the second
up the ball-striking a little said. q and dropped two shots Rory McIlroy made three round at Riviera.q