Compton shares lead, Woods two shots back
Greensboro, August 21
Erik Compton wonders if he should start drinking more often after firing an eight-under 62 to grab a three-way share of the first round lead at the Wyndham Championship on Thursday.
The two-time heart-transplant recipient, who tied for second at last year’s US Open, took advantage of ideal scoring conditions on a soggy Sedgefield course to join fellow Americans William McGirt and Tom Hoge atop the leaderboard.
Preferred lies and soft greens allowed players to attack the pins fearlessly on a day when 102 players broke par, including Tiger Woods, whose 64 was his best score in over two years. At 114th on the FedExCup points list, Compton is likely to stay in the top 125 and qualify for the lucrative play-offs starting next week, and a good start here did not hurt his cause.
He arrived after a couple of weeks off, knocked off the rust in pro-am and continued his hot hand when the action started. “Kind of an unexpected round,” he said after storming home in 28 strokes on his final nine holes, the front nine.
Co-leader McGirt — who grew up in nearby Charlotte — teed off so early that it was hard to read the greens for the first few holes on a cloudy morning. Tour rookie Hoge birdied the 18th to make it a three-way tie for the lead. Compton and McGirt led a group of four players by one stroke, while two-time major winner Martin Kaymer was among those who matched Woods on 64.