On the links Thursday’s professional golf results

NORTHERN TRUST OPEN

LOS ANGELES

Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh, among the top five players in the world a decade ago, were part of a six-way tie for the lead in the Northern Trust Open in what amounted to “throwback Thursday” at Riviera.

The 51-year-old Singh, who plays the occasional Champions Tour event, picked up four birdies on the back nine for a 5-under 66, his lowest opening round on the PGA Tour since the 2012 McGladrey Classic. The three-time major champion and former world No. 1 has not won since 2008.

Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion who turned 47 this month, was slowed by a pair of sloppy bogeys early on the back nine until he made a pair of late birdies to join Singh at 66. Goosen hasn’t won since 2009.

They played in the game group with 28-year-old Brian Harman, who shot a 78.

“It was nice to see the two old boys play pretty good,” Goosen said.

Pebble Beach runner-up Nick Watney, competing for the fifth straight week, kept up his form with an eagle on the opening hole on his way to a 66. James Hahn, Daniel Summerhays and Derek Fathauer joined them in the lead as an overcast morning turned into mild sunshine, typical of the weather on this wondrous West Coast Swing.

Fathauer was the only player at 66 who played in the afternoon, when the already difficult greens had a bit more bounce with approach shots and bump on the putts.

Such is Riviera that on a perfect day for scoring — mild weather, no wind — the average score was just under 73.

No one managed better than 66, while three players failed to break 80. One of them was Scott Piercy, who became this year’s face of the par-4 10th hole. He began his round by going from the front bunker to the back bunker to the front bunker to the back bunker before a great putt for double bogey.

HERO INDIAN OPEN

NEW DELHI

Defending champion Siddikur Rahman and three-time runner-up Shiv Chowrasia each shot 6-under 65 Thursday to take a share of the lead with three others in the first round of the Indian Open.

“This is a tight and narrow golf course. I’m a very accurate player so I really like this type of course,” Rahman said. “You always see me in good positions when I play here.”

Richard Lee, Chapchai Nirat and Joakim Lagergren were also at the top of the leaderboard in the European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event.

Mithun Perera and Kalem Richardson were two strokes behind. Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 1-under 70 and is tied for 23rd.

Associated Press