ON THE LINKS | More pro golf results from Thursday

SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

OWINGS MILLS, MD.

Larry Mize birdied half the holes and shot an 8-under 64 for a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Senior Players Championship. Seeking his second win on the PGA Tour Champions, the 58-year-old Mize was 5 under after the front nine. He made his only bogey on the par-4 10th hole but rebounded with birdies on 14, 15 and 16. Three-time defending champion Bernhard Langer, Corey Pavin and Steve Flesch were one shot back. Langer enjoyed a bogey-free round on the 7,196-yard Caves Valley Golf Course. Langer played in a threesome with Brandt Jobe, who was 8 under before pushing a 7-iron off the tee and into the water on No. 17. That led to a double bogey, and he bogeyed 18 to shoot 66.

SCOTTISH OPEN

IRVINE, SCOTLAND

Rickie Fowler picked up where he left off at the Scottish Open, shooting a 5-under 67 to leave the 2015 champion tied for the lead midway through the first round at Dundonald Links. The American, who didn’t defend his title last year because of scheduling issues arising from the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, showed great links course management in making five birdies and not dropping any shots. Unlike playing partners Rory McIlroy (74) and Henrik Stenson (72), whose play was erratic in a light breeze off Scotland’s west coast, Fowler only found trouble once in his round when he drove right on the par-5 3rd hole and into a burn. He chipped out from an awkward stance and managed to make the first of three straight birdies. The highlight was a left-to-right birdie putt at No. 4 that curled into the cup from 20 feet. Fowler was tied with Andrew Dodt of Australia and Englishmen Ian Poulter and Callum Shinkwin after the morning starters in the warm-up event for next week’s British Open.

Associated Press