GOLF Veteran Roberts jumps out to lead in PGA Western Open

Roberts uses practice time to start strong
LEMONT, Ill. (AP) -- Loren Roberts is doing his best to keep up with Jay Haas.
Roberts showed that Haas isn't the only one of the older set who can hang with the youngsters, shooting a bogey-free 7-under 64 Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Western Open.
"Jay has just been playing consistently good all the time, and that's something that I really want to try to shoot for," Roberts said. "I would love to do that."
The 50-year-old Haas shared the lead after the first round of the U.S. Open and wound up tied for ninth. He also ranks ninth on the PGA Tour in scoring average -- not bad for a guy who's eligible for the Champions Tour.
"He's been motivating me a little bit," the 49-year-old Roberts acknowledged. "I would love to do what Jay is doing. I would love to play as long as I can out here and play the senior majors. That would be my goal."
So far, he's holding his own. Roberts, a stroke ahead of 2000 winner Robert Allenby, has made the cut in all but one of his 12 starts this year and has six top-20 finishes. His best finish was a tie for 10th in the Nissan Open.
He was in contention for his first win in two years in the Buick Classic three weeks ago, leading after three rounds. But the man called the "Boss of the Moss" for his brilliant putting touch had some rare struggles on the greens the final day, leading to a 78 that dropped him into a tie for 16th.
Putting practice pays off
"I went home to practice my putting, spent a lot of time working on my stroke," he said. "I made a little bit of an adjustment, and it paid off."
Roberts had 27 putts Thursday and never three-putted. He set the tone for his round on the first hole when he ran a 35-foot putt about 8 feet past the hole and made the comebacker to save par.