Share

Spieth, Palmer on song at Zurich Classic

Los Angeles - World No 5 Jordan Spieth and fellow American Ryan Palmer combined for a six-under-par 66 in alternate-shot play on Thursday to grab a share of the lead at the PGA Zurich Classic.

Spieth sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 final hole to lift the Texas duo to the top of the leaderboard alongside Australian teen Ryan Ruffels and American Kyle Stanley at the TPC Louisiana course near New Orleans.

The event shifted to a pairs event this year with 80 two-man teams playing alternate shot in the first and third rounds and better ball format in the second and final founds.

"It looks like wind might pick up tomorrow afternoon, you never know," Spieth said.

"But alternate-shot format with these conditions, anything 3 under or so was a solid score. Grab a few extra and be in obviously pole position, it's fantastic," he added.

"We're just going to try and have as much fun as we had today. We'll get out there tomorrow and try to get as many putts as we can in the wind."

Spieth and Palmer birdied three of the last five holes, Spieth holing out from 36 yards at the par-3 14th and Palmer knocking in a five-foot birdie putt at 16 after having made a six-footer for birdie at the par-5 11th. They also birdied the course's other par-5 holes, the second and seventh.

Back-nine starters Ruffels, an 18-year-old born in Florida to an Aussie father, and Stanley, whose lone PGA victory came at the 2012 Phoenix Open, reeled off four consecutive birdies to begin their round, Stanley sinking a 19-foot birdie putt at the 10th and Ruffels dropping a 24-footer two holes later.

Stanley missed the green off the tee at the par-3 17th and then a 15-foot par putt for their first stumble, but they rebounded with a run of four birdies in six holes on the front nine, starting at the par-5 second and ending at the par-5 seventh.

But on their final hole, the par-3 ninth, Stanley again missed the green and a 22-foot par putt, the subsequent bogey leaving them on 66.

Sharing third on 67 were South Koreans KJ Choi and Charlie Wi, Americans Ben Crane and Ben Martin, Aussie Cameron Smith alongside Swede Jonas Blixt and the US pair of Charley Hoffman and Nick Watney.

England's Ian Poulter, who lost full PGA playing rights last week, and Aussie Geoff Ogilvy were sharing 11th on 69.

World number three Jason Day of Australia and US partner Rickie Fowler were on 71 while Rio Olympic champion Justin Rose of England and runner-up Henrik Stenson of Sweden, the reigning US Open champion, were on 72.

Leading scores after Thursday's opening alternate shot round of the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic, a two-man team event with alternate shot play in rounds one and three and better ball play in rounds two and four (USA unless noted):

66 - Kyle Stanley-Ryan Ruffels (USA/AUS), Jordan Spieth-Ryan Palmer

67 - KJ Choi-Charlie Wi (KOR/KOR), Ben Martin-Ben Crane, Charley Hoffman-Nick Watney, Jonas Blixt-Cameron Smith (SWE/AUS)

68 - Brian Stuard-Chris Stroud, Steve Stricker-Jerry Kelly, Patrick Reed-Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele-Tag Ridings

69 - J.J. Henry-Tom Hoge, Brooks Koepka-Chase Koepka, Geoff Ogilvy-Ian Poulter (AUS/ENG), Troy Merritt-Robert Streb, Hideki Matsuyama-Hideto Tanihara (JPN/JPN), Jason Dufner-Patton Kizzire, Chez Reavie-Lucas Glover, Mark Hubbard-Jonathan Randolph

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2247 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE