Lee on top after Bridgestone’s opening round

So he happily went along at Firestone South in Akron, Ohio, making five birdies in 10 holes on his way to a 4-under-par 66. New Zealander Danny Lee topped the leaderboard at 5 under 65.

“I think I am in a good place and I just have to keep giving myself opportunities”, Day said. “It’s been a rough year, no doubt about it”. I need a little bit of work on that, but nice for my short game to show up and save me a bit there.

On his two bogeys, the two-time major victor was dissatisfied with his wedging, which is normally his strength, and explained that he just couldn’t quite get it right.

He made a bogey on par-5 second hole, the easiest at Firestone. Heading to his final hole of the day at 3-under par, Matsuyama hit his tee shot to the right, where it came to a stop among the roots of a tree. A misjudged second shot saw his ball scuttle into the bunker at the back of the green but from there he would flip it out to 10 feet before rolling in a crucial, clutch par putt. Even though he made six birdies, Garcia took a 9 on the par-5 16th hole.

McIlroy hints at return: Rory McIlroy, who has been out since the U.S. Open with an ankle injury, dropped hints that he would return for the PGA Championship next week at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Only 19 players from the 77-man field remained under par.“When its playing firm and fast, its tough, ” Johnson said.

Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose were tied for fourth at 3-under 67.

McDowell is at No. 159 in the FedEx Cup and in danger of missing the playoffs.

Finding the fairway has always been paramount at Firestone and Lowry was splitting nearly every one.

“Probably the hardest question was, ‘Do I still want to grind and be out here?”

However, Spieth managed to recover on the final hole with a birdie to post an even score of 70 by the end of the round.

PGA Tour: Andres Gonzales had 11 birdies and a bogey in a 21-point round for a share of the lead with Brendan Steele in the Barracuda Championship in Reno, Nevada. More painful was three years ago, when Furyk led wire to wire and was in the 18th fairway when one bad swing led to a double bogey and he lost by one.

McDowell set the pace at Firestone after firing four birdies in a front nine of 31, moving temporarily in to the outright lead with a six-foot gain at the tenth. “But very pleased with the way I can make six birdies hitting nine greens”.

Dalke, Wang win junior titles: BRYAN, Texas – Brad Dalke and Elizabeth Wang won playoffs in the Junior PGA Championship at Miramont Country Club.