On the Links Thursday’s pro golf results

RSM CLASSIC

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA.

Davis Love III and Davis Love IV did everything together Thursday at Sea Island. They have the same pre-shot routine, a full practice swing before setting up over the ball. Both hit 3-wood off the tee and made birdie on the opening hole. Both wound up with an even-par 70 on the Seaside Course. And both have a lot of work to make up ground on Kevin Kisner. Kisner hit 3-wood to about 25 feet on the fringe and made eagle on his penultimate hole on the Plantation Course for a 7-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead based on par after the first round of the RSM Classic. Jeff Overton, David Hearn and Tom Hoge each had a 6-under 64 on the Seaside Course.

CME GROUP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

NAPLES, FLA.

Austin Ernst leads the tournament, Sei Young Kim leads the race for $1 million and Lydia Ko edged closer to everything else that’s at stake this weekend. Ernst shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead over Mi Hyang Lee after the opening round of the CME Group Tour Championship. Kim, part of a group two shots off Ernst’s pace, would win the season-ending $1 million bonus if the tournament ended in its current order. The top-ranked Ko shot a 69 to move closer to earning player of the year honors, plus the scoring and money titles. Lee was alone in second.

DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Rory McIlroy birdied his last hole to keep pace with Danny Willett in their Race to Dubai points fight in the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship. McIlroy chipped in from a greenside bunker on the 18th hole for a 4-under 68, leaving him tied with Willett — two shots behind the four leaders at Jumeirah Golf Estates. McIlroy leads the standings with 3,393,923 points, followed by Willett with 3,392,310. Players will receive a point for each dollar earned in the event. The points winner will receive $1.25 million and an additional $625,000 for playing three of the four Finals Series events. Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Andy Sullivan and Marcus Fraser shared the lead at 66s at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

AUSTRALIAN MASTERS

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Adam Scott birdied five of his final eight holes for a 7-under 64 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Australian Masters. The Australian lost in playoffs in two previous appearances at Huntingdale in 2002 and 2003. He won the event at two other nearby sand-belt courses — in 2012 at Kingston Heath and 2013 at Royal Melbourne. Australia’s Daniel Fox was second.

Associated Press