EDISON, N.J. — The start of the FedEx Cup playoffs brought out the worst score from Jordan Spieth in three months.
In his first tournament as No. 1 in the world, Spieth had a pair of three-putt bogeys, hit a tee shot in the water, shot 40 on his back nine and wound up with a 4-over 74 in the opening round of The Barclays. It was his highest score since a 75 in The Players Championship, the last time he missed a cut.
“Just lost a little bit of focus,” Spieth said. “All in all I’m just going to take today as a fluke round. I still believe I’m playing well. It just happened to be an off day on a day where it counted.”
Bubba Watson and Tony Finau powered their way around Plainfield Country Club and each had a 5-under 65. They were in a four-way tie for the lead that included Spencer Levin and Camilo Villegas, players in need of a good week.
Villegas only got into the top 125 to qualify for the playoffs last week at the Wyndham Championship, with two shots to spare. That was pressure. Now he feels as though he has nothing to lose as he tries to get into the top 100 who advance to the second event next week at the TPC Boston.
“Last week was an important week,” said Villegas, who is No. 123. “It hasn’t been the best of years, and just to be able to sneak in here and give myself a chance … I get off to a good start, and three more rounds to go and keep it going.”
Levin secured his spot in the playoffs with a 63 in the final round at the Wyndham, moving up seven spots to No. 115.
LPGA: Brittany Lang birdied five of the first seven holes in windy conditions and shot a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic at Prattville, Alabama.
Added to the U.S. Solheim Cup team Monday as one of Juli Inkster’s two captain’s picks, Lang had a two-stroke lead over Tiffany Joh, Sydnee Michaels and Ryann O’Toole.
“It was just one of those days. It was so enjoyable,” Lang said. “I wasn’t thinking about a whole lot. I was just super committed to seeing my shots. It was so much fun.”
EUROPEAN: Eduardo De La Riva of Spain and Renato Paratore of Italy each shot a 7-under 65 to tie for the lead after the first round at the Czech Masters at Vysoky Ujezd, Czech Republic.
De La Riva recovered from an early bogey on the second with six birdies. He finished his round by holing for an eagle on the par-4 18th from the fairway.
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