Simpson, Noren share lead in Florida, McDowell in touch

LPGA: In Chonburi, Thailand, three-time tour victor Minjee Lee of Australia finished with an eagle putt to be among the four leaders after the first round of the LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club.

He added, that of course Tiger should focus on majors – he’s done that his whole career. Give him a little bit of time.

On a windy day at Florida’s hard PGA National course, Scott made a meal of the par-3 15th and 17th only moments after coming within two of the lead.

‘Definitely it was different, like playing a British Open.

Only two Australians are in the field this week – Greg Chalmers and Adam Scott.

The only real hiccup came on the par-5 third, where Woods drove into a fairway bunker, laid up to 150 yards, hit 6-iron into a greenside bunker, pitched out to only the fringe, chipped five feet past the hole and missed the one coming back before tapping in for double. Was T11 in his last start at the Phoenix Open, and despite a MC at Torrey Pines, Fowler was T4 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and won the Hero World Challenge prior to that.

Woods is in a tie for 21st alongside the likes of European No 1 Tommy Fleetwood and a rejuvenated Graeme McDowell, while defending champion Rickie Fowler needed a late birdie to salvage a 71. It will be nice to get a change of scenery as the PGA Tour leaves California and heads east to Florida for the next few weeks.

Justin Thomas has curious course form of MC-3-MC but the middle one shows that he can tame this track and the US PGA champ has to rank as a big threat after showing some good signs when T9 at Riviera on Sunday. He expects that number to continue rising. He tied for third the following year before missing the cut again in 2017. He acknowledged being exhausted coming off the West Coast Swing, but posted his lowest career round at PGA National on Thursday. Thomas had a run four straight birdies around the turn, and then sandwiched a birdie around two bogeys at the end. Hasn’t finished worse than T21 in his last four appearances, but this is his first start here. McIlroy is a proven commodity and should be another popular betting option for the Honda Classic.

Only 20 players managed to break par at PGA National.

LPGA Tour: Three-time tour victor Minjee Lee of Australia finished with a superb eagle putt to be among the four leaders after day one of the LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club in Chonburi. Garcia is a regular at this tournament and he has placed in the top-15 in three of his last four start here. In the past seven years, he’s finished outside the top 15 just twice, with his best finish fifth in 2016.