WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, US — Swede Jonas Blixt made a storming start to his title defense at The Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia Thursday as he charged into a one-shot lead in the opening round. Firing at the flags whenever possible on a calm morning in the Allegheny Mountains, the 30-year-old racked up eight birdies and two bogeys on the way to a six-under-par 64 on the Greenbrier's Old White Course. That left him one ahead of New Zealand's Danny Lee and Americans James Hahn, Jason Bohn, Chris Kirk, D.A. Points, Patrick Rodgers, Jim Renner and Joe Durant, who tied for sixth at last week's Senior Players Championship, the year's third major on the over-50s Champions Tour. American world No. 18 Steve Stricker, who has been playing a limited schedule on the PGA Tour in recent years, carded a bogey-free 66 in his first tournament since last month's US Open. Blixt, who won last year's Greenbrier Classic by two shots after closing with a 67, was delighted with his overall strategy coming into his second ever title defense on the PGA Tour. Tour veteran Stricker, making only his eighth start on the PGA Tour this season, recorded four birdies with his wife, Nicki, working as his caddie. Masters champion and world No. 3 Bubba Watson, who set up home with his family at the luxurious Greenbrier resort only a month ago, carded a 68 in the more difficult conditions of the afternoon when the wind began to pick up. Stadler extends lead American Kevin Stadler was the early clubhouse leader at the French Open Friday as a second-round, three-under-par 68 extended his advantage to three shots at Le Golf National. Many of the field were yet to tee off as rain and adverse conditions played into the hands of Stadler who was one of the early starters and took full advantage to stand 10-under-par after 36 holes. Another solid round that featured four front-nine birdies and two more down the stretch was only marred by a double bogey at the 18th which denied the 34-year-old an even bigger lead. Victor Riu gave home fans real hope of a first French champion since Thomas Levet in 2011 with a 67 to lie second, three shots behind Stadler on seven under. The only victory to date, for the 29-year-old from Saint-Nom-la-Breteche, was on the Challenge Tour in 2013 when he won the Swiss Challenge by three shots. Germany's Marcel Siem, the 2012 French Open champion, remained in third spot but now four strokes off the lead as he was one of the later starters. Scotland's Stephen Gallacher is a further shot back on five under and also scheduled to tee off in the afternoon. Defending champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland finished strongly with birdies at the 11th and 16th to finish his second round on three-under-par and seven shots off the lead. US Open champion Martin Kaymer shot a one-under-par 70 and looks set to make the cut but now needs to make up nine shots on Stadler if he is to win a second French Open after triumphing on the Albatross course in 2009. — Agencies
