Mahan shares Bridgestone lead
It has reached the point where everyone expects to see his name atop the leaderboard, and he got there Thursday at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, with 5 birdies in a seven-hole stretch on a course that felt like a major.
Hunter Mahan is on a roll.
Coming off four consecutive top 10s that included his first PGA Tour victory, Mahan overcame a sloppy double bogey with a torrid stretch of birdies for a 3-under 67, giving him a share of the lead with Paul Casey and Rory Sabbatini.
That other name that has become a fixture at Firestone -- Tiger Woods -- didn't fare too badly, either.
Woods is a five-time winner at Firestone and going after his third straight title in this World Golf Championship. He opened with a 68 that included another memorable shot, this one a 5-wood from 245 yards in the right rough that he squeezed between two trees and just over the back of the green for a simple birdie on the par-5 second.
"Very satisfied," said Woods, who has posted a score in the 60s in the first round all 10 times he has played this course.
Mahan was playing Firestone for the first time, but that doesn't seem to matter. He got his game on track when he shot 63 to qualify for the U.S. Open, and he hasn't let up. There was a victory in Hartford, a 69-65 weekend at Carnoustie to tie for sixth at the British Open, an opening 62 at the Canadian Open, where he eventually tied for fifth.
So when he chopped up the 17th hole for double bogey, there was no need to panic.
"I'm just playing golf," said Mahan, a 25-year-old player from Oklahoma State. "It's just exciting to play this good, to feel like I'm finally reaching my potential and finally playing the way I can. Just going out there and letting go."
For most of the 83-man field, it was a matter of hanging on, as only 13 players broke par.
Women's British Open: Lorena Ochoa compiled a bogey-free 6-under 67 at St. Andrews, Scotland, in calm, sunny conditions to take a 2-shot lead in the Women's British Open.
It was the first time the women pros had played at the famous course and she came up with the best opening round.
"It was just a really good day, one of those days when things are easy and really good. There was only a little bit of a breeze and I took advantage of that and made some birdies. I had in my head 2 or 3 under so it's even better than I thought."
Sweden's Louise Friberg and South Korea's In-Bee Park are 2 shots behind after 69s, with Japan's Ai Miyazato and England's Rebecca Hudson 3 off the lead after 70s. Annika Sorenstam had a 1-under 72 while Michelle Wie showed signs of straightening out her game with an even-par 73.
The strong winds that often blow across this part of Scotland took the day off and Ochoa took full advantage. The forecast for today and Saturday includes winds of up to 35 mph.
"I believe in myself and I was feeling good in the morning," said Ochoa, who tied for second at the U.S. Women's Open a month ago and finished second, third and fourth in other majors. "We are all excited to be here and I'm just glad I did it right on my first try and take as much advantage as you can and now I'm feeling good."