No Time Off, So Kraft Takes Lead in Western

Greg Kraft was told he didn’t have a sponsor’s exemption to the Western Open, put his clubs away, prepared for a week off, then was told that, yes, he should show up at Lemont, Ill., prepared to play after all.

Darren Clarke had withdrawn.

Kraft responded with a five-under-par 67 in Thursday’s first round, good for a one-stroke lead over Vijay Singh, Joe Durant and Lee Janzen, who had a quiet 18 holes playing with Payne Stewart, whom he beat by a shot a week ago to win the U.S. Open.

Stewart shot a 73.

“I’m real close to swinging the way I want to,” Kraft said.

Tiger Woods isn’t.

Woods, the defending champion, skied to a four-over 76 and faces the possibility of missing the cut for only the second time in his professional career.

*

Bobby Rodger of Redlands, a sophomore at Pepperdine, was a 1-up winner over Andy Miller in the second round of the California Amateur at Pebble Beach. Miller, the 20-year-old son of Johnny Miller, had shot 68-74 in stroke play and had easily won his first match, 9 and 8.

Medalist Craig Steinberg of Van Nuys was a 1-up loser to Ed Cuff Jr. of Temecula. In the 86-year history of the tournament, only 10 medalists have won the championship.