|
Langer holds a two-shot lead over Tim Petrovic and Sweden's
Robert Karlsson. Tied for fourth behind them are Paul Stankowski,
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Retief Goosen of South Africa
at 5-under 67.
Langer, who has 42 Champions Tour titles to his name -- three
shy of Hale Irwin's all-time record, played the front nine in 2
under before running off five consecutive birdies at Nos. 11-15.
He then birdied the last, finishing his day at the Black Course
at Tiburon Golf Club without a bogey.
"It's just fun shooting your age," Langer said. "It was really
fun doing it the first time on my actual birthday (at the 2021
Ally Challenge last August). It's still special because it's not
easy to do. Yeah, hopefully it gets easier as we get older, but
we'll find out. The future will show."
Langer also won the Chubb Classic in 2011, 2013 and 2016.
Karlsson posted eight birdies and two bogeys to shoot 66. He
strung together three straight birdies at Nos. 13-15 to get to 6
under. He bogeyed the par-4 17th hole to give one back, but
birdied the par-5 18th to return to 6 under.
Karlsson missed the final few events of the 2021 season while
dealing with back problems, so he said he would have been OK
with any score Friday.
"Talked to three different doctors. They all say the same
things: Six weeks without golf balls and then you can start
slowly, so that's what I did," Karlsson said.
Tied for seventh at 4-under 68 are Scott Dunlap, Rocco Mediate,
Doug Barron, Jerry Kelly, Steve Flesch and England's Paul
Broadhurst. Ernie Els of South Africa is among those at 3 under.
Former Masters champion Ian Woosnam of Wales withdrew after
eight holes due to back and neck issues.
--Field Level Media
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
