PROFESSIONAL GOLF Thursday’s tournaments

GENESIS OPEN

Spieth tied for lead after 12 holes at rainy Riviera

LOS ANGELES

One of the wildest pars Phil Mickelson ever made didn’t even count. Neither did one of the worst lies Jordan Spieth ever had.

Fifty minutes into the start of the Genesis Open, with only 30 players having teed off, the opening round was scrapped because of increasing rain that soaked Riviera and poor visibility that made it unusually tough on the earliest of starters.

Everyone started over after what amounted to a seven-hour delay, and Spieth made the most of his second chance.

He chipped in twice for birdie, made birdie on all three par 5s and was at 5-under par through 12 holes. He was tied for the lead with Sung Kang, who was through 14 holes.

Tiger Woods never made it to the course. He was to play in the afternoon and faces a long day of as many holes as he can get in today in what now becomes a long, disjointed week trying to catch up.

WOMEN’S AUSZTRALIAN OPEN

Five-time winner Webb 2 strokes back

ADELAIDE, Australia

Karrie Webb’s bid for a sixth Women’s Australian Open title began with a 5-under 67 at The Grange, leaving her two strokes behind first-round leaders Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Wei-Ling Hsu.

English player Ewart Shadoff had a bogey-free 65 in calm morning weather Thursday, which included four consecutive birdies from the seventh through 10th holes. Hsu had it tougher in the afternoon but still managed five back-nine birdies.

Defending champion Jin Young Ko was among those tied for sixth with a 68, along with Americans Kristen Gillman and Jackie Stoelting.

LECOM SUNCOAST CLASSIC

Florida club pro hits 6 in water, makes 17

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla.

Ben DeArmond had a debut to remember on the Web.com Tour because of one hole he will never forget — a score of 17 on the par-4 second hole Thursday in the Lecom Suncoast Classic.

DeArmond, the head pro at the TPC at Treviso Bay in Naples, drove into the water on the 491-yard second hole, and that’s where his troubles began. He twice tried to clear the water from the rough and failed. He went back to the tee and hit into the water a fourth time, and then found the water twice more from the rough before he finally reached the fairway.

It eventually added to a 17, and DeArmond wound up with a 91.

DeArmond, who received a sponsor exemption into tournament, said the experience didn’t entirely ruin his day. He played the last 11 holes with 10 pars and a bogey.

Associated Press