Four weeks after winning his first PGA Tour title, William McGirt continued to ride a red-hot putter as he surged into a three-stroke lead in Thursday's opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational here. The 37-year-old American stole the limelight from the game's biggest names competing in the elite World Golf Championships event, firing a flawless six-under-par 64 on a breezy, sun-splashed day at Firestone Country Club. McGirt, who won the Memorial title earlier this month, sank two birdie putts from 30 feet, holed out from a bunker at the 15th and ended his round by draining a 46-footer for par from just off the 18th green. Australian world No. 1 Jason Day, bidding for a fourth PGA Tour victory this season, opened with a 67 to end the round level with Argentina's Emiliano Grillo and American Jimmy Walker. American world No. 2 Jordan Spieth endured a poor day on a challenging course from tee to green, but relied on his putting brilliance to card a two-under 68, highlighted by birdies on his last four holes. McGirt racked up six birdies, including four in his first eight holes. Newly crowned US Open champion Dustin Johnson opened with a 69 while world number five Rickie Fowler carded 68 to finish level with fellow Americans Spieth and Charley Hoffman, and India's Anirban Lahiri. Laird grabs early lead Scotland's Martin Laird holds a one-point lead after the first round of the Barracuda Championship, an unusual event featuring the Modified Stableford scoring system. Laird made eight birdies (each worth two points) and one bogey (for a loss of one point) to finish at 15 at Montreux Golf and Country Club in Reno, Nevada. Gary Woodland, Australia's Greg Chalmers and Colombia's Camilo Villegas are tied for second at 14. The 7,472-yard course features seven lakes and four waterfalls in the foothills of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. But its date on this year's Olympic-compressed calendar puts it opposite the World Golf Championships tournament in Akron, Ohio, where most of the world's top-ranked players are competing. As a result, 63rd-rated American Patton Kizzire is the highest-ranked player in the field. Instead of a score related to par, players this week will receive five points for an eagle, two for each birdie, zero for pars, minus-one for bogeys and minus-three for double bogeys. Colt Knost, Zac Blair, Brendan Steele and Jay McLuen share fifth place at 13. Tied for ninth at 12 are Steve Marino and Jeff Overton. J.J. Henry, the defending champion, made four bogeys and just one birdie, leaving him tied for 14th at minus-2. Henderson 2 shots ahead Brooke Henderson began the defense of her Portland Classic title with a seven-under-par 65 Thursday, which gave her a two-stroke lead after the first round. Henderson won her first LPGA title by eight strokes at Columbia Edgewater Country Club last year. She called on those memories in an opening round that included nine birdies and gave her a cushion over Angela Stanford, Demi Runas and Colombia's Mariajo Uribe who are all at five-under-par. Since that victory last year, the Canadian teenager has won her first major title, at the women's PGA Championship earlier this month, and risen to number two in the world rankings. Uribe enjoyed a steady round with five birdies. She needed only 26 putts.
