COLUMBUS, Ohio — Stewart Cink is off to an amazing begin en path to his third consecutive senior main title.
Sink was the one participant with 5 birdies on the again 9 Thursday at Scioto Nation Membership, capturing a 3-under 67 to share the lead within the first spherical of the U.S. Senior Open with Charlie Wie.
Cink struggled on the entrance 9, posting a 2-over 37, however regained momentum after the flip.
“I used to be off for a short time, however I began like I used to be off for a short time. I needed to show to myself once more that I may play first rate golf in a sure means,” Sink mentioned. “The again 9 was actually nice. I used to be really in a position to shoot fairly low on the again 9. I missed three birdie putts like inside, simply birdie putts beneath 10 ft.”
Cink, 53, has 4 wins in 9 PGA Tour Championships this 12 months, together with the Senior PGA Championship and Custom. The final participant to win the Senior PGA, Custom and U.S. Senior Open in the identical 12 months was Jack Nicklaus in 1991. Scioto, the Donald Ross course that can host the third U.S. Senior Open, is the place Nicklaus discovered the sport.
Simon Griffiths, Freddie Jacobson and George McNeill tied for third with 68 factors. Defending champion Padraig Harrington was additionally within the group of 10 gamers with 69 factors.
“Clearly, it is tough, we all know that. So as soon as we get via that, the golf course itself is enjoying nicely,” Harrington mentioned.
Cink can also be attempting to grow to be the fifth athlete to win the occasion, following his runner-up end final 12 months. The final time Fred Funk did it was in 2009.
Sink teed off from the primary gap as a part of the No. 7 group within the afternoon, enjoying in among the hardest situations of the day, with temperatures reaching 95 levels halfway via the spherical and a Nationwide Climate Service warmth index of 103.
“Warmth is definitely an element. It impacts focus and vitality ranges. Generally even the only photographs, it is easy to go to sleep on the wheel in these situations,” he mentioned.
Cink tied Wie with a birdie on the par-4 18th. Cink’s tee shot hit one of many bunkers on the left hand aspect, however it was an amazing lie. His second shot landed inside two ft of the entrance of the opening, making it a straightforward putt.
Wie was even par via the primary 11 holes, however made consecutive birdies from holes 3 to 7. Wi made a double bogey on the par-4 eighth gap and completed the spherical with a par.
Wie thought his finest shot was the par-3 fourth when he hit his 5-iron to inside just a few ft of the tee on the 205-yard gap.
“I hit the ball fairly nicely at the moment and made a few putts. It was a sizzling day. I simply tried to remain within the ballgame, so mentally as nicely, since you may simply lose on the market,” he mentioned.
Wie’s bridie streak ended on the eighth gap when his second shot missed the left and landed within the water close to the inexperienced. He’s the 14th participant within the 46-year historical past of the Senior Open to attain at the very least 5 consecutive birdies in a spherical. The final time it occurred was in 2022, when Thongchai Jaydee birdied Nos. 5-9 in the course of the third spherical on the Previous Course at Saucon Valley Nation Membership in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The 54-year-old Korean has 9 skilled wins around the globe, together with 5 on the Korean Tour, however none on the PGA Tour or Champions circuit.
