PGA

PGA

Mickelson 2 shots back at Safeway Open

NAPA, Calif.

Phil Mickelson had six straight birdies and shot a 7-under 65 to pull within two strokes of leader Sepp Straka in the PGA Tour’s season-opening Safeway Open.

The 48-year-old Mickelson birdied Nos. 9-14 and closed with four straight pars on the North Course at Silverado Resort and Spa.

Straka birdied the final three holes for a 63. The Austrian played alongside Mark Mulder, the former major league pitcher who opened with a 75.

Chase Wright had a 64, playing the last three holes in 4 under with an eagle on the par-5 16th and two birdies.

Brandt Snedeker, Alex Prugh, J.T. Poston, Mackenzie Hughes, Sam Saunders, Sungjae Im and Adam Long shot 66.

Two-time defending champion Brendan Steele had a 67.

Fred Couples, the Hall of Famer who turned 59 on Wednesday, had a 73 in his first PGA Tour round since the Masters in April.

european

Hatton in contention; hit spectator on head

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland

Tyrrell Hatton bounced back from a poor start to register a 2-under 70 and move within two strokes of the first-round lead at the Dunhill Links Championship.

A female fan was pictured bleeding from a head wound after being hit by a drive from defending champion Hatton on the 15th hole at Kingsbarns, one of three courses staging the event.

Hatton bogeyed that hole — his sixth of the day after starting at No. 10 — following bogeys at Nos. 11 and 13, but he eagled the 16th and made four birdies on his back nine.

Marcus Fraser of Australia and Matt Wallace of England shot 68s in high winds at Carnoustie and St. Andrews, respectively.

Hatton is one of two European Ryder Cup-winning stars playing at the Dunhill Links. The other, Tommy Fleetwood, shot 71 at Kingsbarns.

Koepka shot 70 at Kingsbarns, where fellow U.S. Ryder Cup player Tony Finau shot 73.

Associated Press