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SPORTS Saturday 1 September 2018
Keegan Bradley picks up the pieces in Boston

By DOUG FERGUSON bummed out, and then just
NORTON, Mass. (AP) — a couple of days went by
Keegan Bradley managed and I didn't care anymore.
to forget about the way It was tough, because I
he played last week and felt like that was my day to
started a new FedEx Cup kind of tell everybody that
playoff event Friday with maybe I was back and
high hopes. I was here to stay. And I
Tiger Woods switched put- may have put too much
ters and stayed in the mid- pressure on myself. But it's
dle of the pack. nice to come right back
Bradley opened the Dell out and play quickly. So I
Technologies Champion- didn't have to wait a week
ship with a 4-under 67 on or two weeks. And that was
Friday, good enough in great."
breezy conditions at the Bradley opened with four
TPC Boston to share the birdies in eight holes and
early lead with Chris Kirk then held his own on the
and Beau Hossler. Depend- back nine as the wind be-
ing on how the late starters gan to gust.
fared, it would be the high- Woods had a far less aus-
est 18-hole score to lead at picious start by changing
the TPC Boston since the clubs on the 10th tee to
tournament began in 2003. start his round, though it
Five days ago, Bradley wasn't indecision. His cad-
played in the final group die accidentally switched
at The Northern Trust and the head covers on the Keegan Bradley reads the ninth green during the first round of the Dell Technologies Champion-
closed with a 78. What 3-wood and 5-wood while ship golf tournament at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., Friday, Aug. 31, 2018.
made it sting even more they were on the range. Associated Press
is that Bradley hasn't won No matter. Woods sent his
in six years, and another preferred club, the 3-wood, all but one of his majors. It putting kept his score from nament before U.S. Ryder
Ryder Cup is approaching into the bushes on the left wasn't a reaction to finish- being worse. Woods in- Cup captain Jim Furyk an-
with his name not even be- and made bogey. He was ing in a tie for 40th at Ridge- stead struggled with his nounces three of his four
ing mentioned. 3 over for the round until wood Country Club, saying irons, though the wind had picks. Schauffele finished
At least he didn't have to he started pecking away, instead that TaylorMade a lot to do with that, and 12th in the standings.
wait long to fix whatever including a tough par save had been working on this failed to break par in the He played alongside Jor-
went wrong. on his penultimate hole. model the last few months. opening round for the 10th dan Spieth, who also could
"I'm right back up there Woods switched to a new Even so, it remains a strug- time in his last 11 tourna- use a big week. Spieth al-
again," Bradley said. "To putter that resembles the gle to get all components ments. ready is on the Ryder Cup
be honest, I was really one with which he won of his game working. The "I putted beautifully today, I team. The 25-year-old Tex-
really did," Woods said. "I hit an is running out of tourna-
Olesen in strong position to a lot of good putts, and just ments to avoid a winless
have to give myself more year for the first time since
seal Ryder Cup spot in Denmark looks out of them. I didn't 2014. He also, and more ur-
hit the ball close enough."
gently, wants to be at East
Dustin Johnson also started Lake for the Tour Champi-
poorly, but the world's No. onship. Spieth started the
AARHUS, Denmark (AP) — further back. the way I have been for the 1 player turned it around. postseason at No. 43 and
Thorbjorn Olesen was in a They both need big week- last three months or so." Starting on No. 10, he ran moved up 10 spots. He has
strong position to secure ends in central Denmark Bezuidenhout made eight off three straight birdies two weeks to crack the top
the final qualifying place in to deny Olesen a first-ever birdies in a 65 that left him around the turn, had his 30, and would love nothing
Europe's Ryder Cup team Ryder Cup appearance on 13 under, tying Brad- momentum stall by missing more than to not have that
despite making the cut under the captaincy of his ley Dredge's tournament a short par putt, added two hanging over him at the
only on the number at the compatriot, Thomas Bjorn. record after 36 holes. Be- birdies late and shot 68. BMW Championship next
Made In Denmark event The biggest 36-hole deficit zuidenhout was two strokes Johnson was one shot be- week.
on Friday. Only a victory made up by a winner this ahead of Ryder Cup vice- hind, alone with Xander "Ideally this week, play well,
for Matthew Fitzpatrick or season is nine shots, by Alex captain Lee Westwood Schauffele and Webb have a chance to win and
Eddie Pepperell can deny Noren at the French Open. (65) and first-round leader Simpson. It's a big week for not worry about the rest of
Olesen the last automatic "It will take a silly low week- Jonathan Thomson (69).q Schauffele as the final tour- that," he said.q
spot in the Europe team via end," said Fitzpatrick, who
the world points list, but the made his Ryder Cup de-
English players were far off but in 2016 at Hazeltine. "If
the lead after the second I could shoot a couple of
round at Silkeborg Ry Golf 64s then I would have a
Club. chance."
Pepperell shot a 3-under 69 Olesen shot 69 and made
and was 5 under overall, the weekend on the cut
eight strokes behind leader mark at 2-under 142.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout "I feel like I am very close
of South Africa. Fitzpatrick to shooting a low number,"
shot 68 and was a stroke Olesen said, "and playing