Golf: Johnson leads as top-ranked Scott struggles

Fires fiver-under par 65 in USPGA Tour event.

FORT WORTH:

American Dustin Johnson fired a bogey-free five-under par 65 on Thursday to claim the first-round lead at the USPGA Tour’s $6.4 million Colonial tournament.

Johnson hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and nabbed five birdies to take a one-stroke lead over New Zealand’s Tim Wilkinson and Americans Hunter Mahan, Harris English and Robert Streb.

Mahan was on fire on the front nine at Colonial Country Club, making the turn at six-under, thanks in part to his eagle-birdie start.

But he couldn’t keep the momentum, and ended his round with a double-bogey at 18 to join the group on four-under 66.

Wilkinson, making his first start at Colonial, played without a bogey.

Three-time winner this season Jimmy Walker was among a group of 10 players tied for sixth at three-under 67.

Walker was joined by Jason Dufner, Jordan Spieth, Tim Clark, Brice Garnett, Freddie Jacobson, Bo Van Pelt, Ken Duke, David Hearn and Wes Roach.

Defending champ Boo Weekley posted a one-over par 71 and is in a large group of players tied for 64th that also included Australian Adam Scott.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2014.

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