ON THE LINKS Thursday’s pro golf roundup

HSBC CHAMPIONS

Tough course doesn’t bother McDowell at all

SHANGHAI

Graeme McDowell likes a tough golf course, and Sheshan International was perfect for him Thursday. He opened with seven birdies in 12 holes and then hung on for a 5-under 67 and a two-shot lead after the first round of the HSBC Champions.

The course course was tougher than ever with ankle-deep rough and fairways that are not nearly as wide. That didn’t seem to bother McDowell, who only once had to contend with the thick grass.

Rickie Fowler also got off to a fast start before he settled down for a 69, joining a group that included U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer, Brandt Snedeker, Tim Clark, Chris Kirk and Tommy Fleetwood.

The wind was strong and out of the opposite direction, which added to the demanding conditions.

Jordan Spieth began his new PGA Tour season with two straight bogeys and had to save par with a long bunker shot on his third hole. He scratched his way back and wound up in a large group at 70 that featured Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson.

It didn’t take much for players to get going in the wrong direction.

FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel made a pair of double bogeys, only one birdie and shot an 80.

Only 27 players in the 78-man field broke par, compared with 37 players under par on the first day last year when the winning score was 24-under 264.

Patrick Reed has apologized for an outburst of language that was caught on camera during the first round.

Reed missed a 5-footer for a three-putt bogey on his 10th hole on Thursday when microphones caught him swearing at himself for the bogey by using the F-word twice and a gay slur once.

Reed later said on Twitter, “I’m sorry for using offensive language today in China. My passion to play well got the best of me and my word choice was unacceptable.”

The PGA Tour issued a statement that said its policy for conduct unbecoming a professional “prohibits the use of obscene language on the golf course.” The tour said it would handle the matter internally. The tour does not disclose whatever discipline it imposes.

SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP

Cappelen takes early lead in first PGA round

JACKSON, MISS.

Sebastian Cappelen shot a 7-under 65 in his first PGA Tour round to take the lead in the Sanderson Farms Championship.

The 24-year-old Cappelen, from Denmark, opened with a bogey at the Country Club of Jackson and made eight birdies to take a two-shot lead over Robert Streb, Scott Pinckney and Canada’s Nick Taylor.

Cappelen, playing on a sponsor exemption, was an All-American in college at Arkansas. He won the Air Capital Classic in June on the Web.com Tour.

Streb is back in contention two weeks after winning the McGladrey Classic for his first PGA Tour title.

Defending champion Woody Austin had a 70.

Play was suspended because of darkness with 15 players unable to finish.

Associated Press