Golf

Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer share lead in New Orleans

80 teams play foursomes in first and third rounds and fourballs on Friday and Sunday

Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer on the 18th hole at TPC Louisiana on Thursday. Photograph: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Fri Apr 28 2017 - 10:48

Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson found themselves six shots off the lead after the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans — the first official team event on the PGA Tour since 1981.

Rose was back in action for the first time since agonisingly missing out on his second major title at the Masters earlier this month, when he saw a two-shot lead whittled away late on before losing to Spain's Sergio Garcia in a dramatic play-off.

The 36-year-old Englishman and playing partner Stenson enjoyed a good start to the opening foursomes at TPC Louisiana as, after starting on the back nine, they picked up birdies on the 12th — when Rose chipped in from off the green — and 13th.

However, four bogeys in the following eight holes — two of which were par fives - plummeted the star duo to two over.

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They recovered to pick up birdies on the fifth and eighth, but they nevertheless had to settle for a level-par round of 72 and a share of 44th place after day one of the two-man competition.

That was well adrift of top spot, which was jointly held by the pairings of Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer, and Kyle Stanley and 18-year-old Ryan Ruffels, after both recorded six-under-par 66s.

South Korean duo KJ Choi and Charlie Wi are among four teams on five under.

Ireland’s Seamus Power and New Zealander Steven Alker are two under par, starting on the back nine they birdied the 14th and bogeyed the 18th. Before birdies on the first, third and seventh, and a bogey on the eighth.

The 80 teams play foursomes in the first and third rounds and fourballs in rounds two and four, with the top 35 teams surviving the halfway cut.

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