Damron Leads Canadian Open

Robert Damron, a rookie without a victory, shot a five-under-par 65 Thursday for a one-stroke lead over Greg Norman, Jim Furyk, Payne Stewart and Swede Gabriel Hjerstedt after one round of the Canadian Open.

Damron made five birdies in one eight-hole stretch and didn’t make a bogey on a brisk, breezy day that made the thick rough at Royal Montreal Golf Club even more penalizing.

“I started out hitting the driver well,” said Damron, a 24-year-old who played on the Canadian tour last year. “And that’s the most important club in your bag when the rough is this long.”

Gary Orr of Scotland fired a 10-under 61 and countryman Scott Henderson had a 62 in the opening round of the European Masters at Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland.

Colin Montgomerie, another Scot, shot a 65 and was tied for third place with Ronan Rafferty of Northern Ireland and Spain’s Fernando Roca.

Nick Faldo, added Thursday to Europe’s Ryder Cup team, was tied for sixth at 66.

Orr made the turn at seven-under 28 and appeared headed for something even better than a 61, but he picked up a bogey before closing with birdies on four of the last five holes.