Watson Grabs Another Open Lead

Another first round of an Open, another terrific day for Tom Watson.

With memories from his surprising performance at Olympia Fields still vivid, Watson shot a five-under-par 66 to take a three-stroke lead after the rain-shortened opening round of the U.S. Senior Open at Inverness Club on Thursday at Toledo, Ohio.

A thunderstorm suspended play with 36 of the 156 players still on the course. The first round will be completed today, followed by the second round.

Bruce Lietzke was alone in second after a 69. Mike McCullough and J.C. Snead were the only other players to break par, each with a 70. The top four players all went off early in the morning.

Two weeks ago, Watson electrified the U.S. Open galleries by shooting a 65 to share the lead after the first round.

This round lacked the emotion of that one. There were no hugs with ailing caddie Bruce Edwards, only an occasional exchange of fist pumps after another long birdie putt found the hole.

Winner of five British Opens, two Masters and the 1982 U.S. Open, Watson is winless in three tries at the Senior Open.

Edwards, who first caddied for Watson in 1973, was diagnosed in January with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Watson has increased his efforts to raise money to fight ALS.

Former Dodger right-hander Rick Rhoden, who pitched in the big leagues for 16 years, made his Champions Tour debut with a seven-over-par 78.

“In all games you pitch you’re nervous at the start,” said Rhoden, 151-125 with the Dodgers, Pirates, Yankees and Astros. “I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be today.”

Rhoden played to the crowd by wearing a Toledo Mud Hens cap.

“Maybe I’ll wear a Dodger hat tomorrow,” he said.

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Jay Haas and Darron Stiles shot seven-under 64s and shared a one-stroke lead in the suspended first round of the St. Jude Classic at Memphis, Tenn.

Play stopped twice because of rain at the TPC at Southwind course, and more rain and darkness kept 56 golfers from finishing the round.

Haas picked up where he left off last week, when he had a final-round 65 to tie for fourth at the Buick Classic. In the first group off the No. 1 tee, Haas bogeyed the first hole before making seven consecutive birdies for the first time in his career as part of a nine-birdie, two-bogey round.

Stiles, a three-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, is in his first season on the PGA Tour.

Robert Damron was a stroke back. David Gossett was tied with Stan Utley and Dennis Paulson at 66.