Defending British Open champion Padraig Harrington has an ailing right wrist.
The injury has forced him to cut back on a practice round and raised questions about whether he'll be able to tee it up.
Harrington intends to play "as long as I don't re-injure it," he said Tuesday outside the clubhouse at Royal Birkdale.
The Irishman sustained the injury Saturday while hitting into an "impact bag." After skipping a few days of practice, he decided to test out his wrist.
Richard S. Johnson aced the 14th hole on his way to shooting a 63 that gave him a one stroke lead over the Pappas brothers after the first round of the U.S. Bank Championship on Thursday.
Deane and Brenden Pappas shot 6-under 64 and Robert Garrigus, Dean Wilson and Patrick Sheehan were another shot behind. Defending champion Joe Ogilvie and Jesper Parnevik were in a group of ten tied at 66.
Christina Kim shot a 9-under 63 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead at the State Farm Classic, a tournament she just missed winning last year.
"Some places are just magic," said Kim, who has two career wins and 30 top-10 finishes. "For me, this place has been absolutely magical."
Last year Kim birdied 18 to momentarily tie Sherri Steinhauer at 16 under, but the veteran Steinhauer matched Kim on the last hole to win.
Kim made her own magic Thursday with seven birdies, and eagle and no bogeys.
Kyle Leach defeated Rickie Fowler 2 and 1 in third-round match play Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Public Links.
"I beat the top United State's amateur," Leach said. "It's overwhelming."
Leach of Louisville, Ky., earned a shot at Fowler by beating Scott Langley, 1-up earlier in the day.
"I went out and stuck to my game," said Leach, a junior to be at Bellarmine University in Louisville. "My putter was great and I made a lot of putts.
Mediate soars, Mickelson falls at rain-soaked Open
Thursday, 17 July 2008
The day started with howling wind and soaking rain. By afternoon, the showers had stopped and the breeze tailed off.
Rocco Mediate was among those taking advantage of the break in the weather.
Mr. Everyman proved his performance at the last major championship was no fluke, becoming the first player at the British Open to break par Thursday. His 1-under 69 was quickly matched by Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby, all of them late starters seizing on their meteorological good fortune.
Defending British Open champion Padraig Harrington has an ailing right wrist.
The injury has forced him to cut back on a practice round and raised questions about whether he'll be able to tee it up.
Harrington intends to play "as long as I don't re-injure it," he said Tuesday outside the clubhouse at Royal Birkdale.
The Irishman sustained the injury Saturday while hitting into an "impact bag." After skipping a few days of practice, he decided to test out his wrist.
