Bryant Leads at Bay Hill

Bart Bryant has already won Jack Nicklaus’ tournament. Opening with a six-under-par 66 on Thursday in the Bay Hill Invitational allowed him to think about adding Arnold Palmer’s trophy to his collection.

Bryant surged to the top of a crowded leaderboard at Orlando, Fla., with a three-iron into 12 feet for eagle on the 16th hole and a string of good iron shots for a share of the lead with Dean Wilson.

Ernie Els made a 50-foot eagle putt on the sixth hole on his way to a 67. He was joined by former British Open champion Ben Curtis, former Bay Hill winner Chad Campbell, Lucas Glover and Jason Gore.

Tiger Woods was poised to join them, despite not feeling the least bit comfortable over his tee shots, approaches to the green or his putting. He was at four under until consecutive bogeys put him at 70.

Despite the fear of 3 1/2 -inch rough, conditions were dry and players were able to advance the ball from the thick grass close enough to the green to get par or better. It still was tough enough that no one went lower than 66, but 22 players shot in the 60s.

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Aree Song shot an eight-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Sarah Lee and Maria Hjorth in the Safeway International at Superstition Mountain, Ariz.

Sixteen golfers are within three shots of the lead at the par-72 Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club.

Annika Sorenstam, the two-time defending champion, is tied for 28th place after a 69.

Song recorded eight birdies on the 6,620-yard Prospector Course, but Lee had the shot of the day, a six-iron for a hole in one on the 159-yard 17th hole.