Rookie Simpson takes 2-shot lead

Rookie Webb Simpson found enough birdies on long, tough and wet Liberty National in Jersey City, N.J., to shoot a three-under-par 68 Friday and build a two-shot lead in the Barclays, the opening playoff event on the PGA Tour.

Simpson, 24, took the lead with an approach to 10 inches on the fifth hole. He was among nine players who broke par, finishing at eight-under 134.

Paul Goydos and Steve Marino, among the leaders after the first round, each had a 71 and were tied for second. The other leader, Sergio Garcia, played in tougher morning conditions and had a 76.

Tiger Woods bogeyed his final hole for a 72 and was eight shots behind. He declined to speak to the media for the second straight day.

Champions Tour

Still winless on the Champions Tour, Mark O’Meara eagled the 18th hole to take a two-shot lead over a jumbled field after the first round of the Boeing Classic in Snoqualmie, Wash.

Mark McNulty shot a 30 on his first nine holes -- the back nine at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge -- then stumbled to two over on his second nine and finished at four-under 68. Also at four-under were Allen Doyle, Loren Roberts and John Jacobs.

LPGA Tour

Beth Bader, playing early in the day before wind and rain moved in, shot an eight-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead into the second round of the Safeway Classic near Portland, Ore. Anna Nordqvist and Seon Hwa Lee shot 65s.

U.S. Amateur

Byeong-Hun An, 17, bidding to become the youngest player to win the U.S. Amateur, advanced to the semifinals at Tulsa, Okla., with his second straight playoff win, a 21-hole victory over Stanford junior Steve Ziegler.