Norman Leads by a Stroke After His First-Round 64

Greg Norman shot an eight-under-par 64 Thursday in his first appearance at the Greater Milwaukee Open and took a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the $800,000 tournament.

Wayne Grady, Phil Blackmar, Curt Byrum and Steve Pate were one shot behind on a windy, overcast day at the 7,030-yard Tuckaway Country Club course.

Norman, playing the back nine first, started slowly with a bogey-five on the 444-yard 10th hole.

But a birdie on the 525-yard 12th got Norman rolling. He finished the round with nine birdies, one on each of the course’s four par-fives.

Grady, playing in the same threesome with Norman, kept pace. He made two 40-foot putts and another from 60 feet for three birdies, and holed a sand wedge on the 390-yard fourth hole for an eagle-two.

Blackmar, Byrum and Pate played the course in the afternoon when the wind picked up and a threat of rain lingered. But all three managed seven birdies on a course known for low scores.

Alone at 66 was Steve Lowery, while seven others were at 67--Mark Lye, Hale Irwin, David Frost, Nick Price, Doug Weaver, Greg Ladehoff and Andrew Magee.

Norman said his early-morning tee time was partially responsible for his sluggish start.

“It took about four or five holes to get my body in sync,” he said. “You hope to get off to a good start and just continue. Now you have a foundation to build a tournament around.”