McIlroy six behind Rose; Caldwell and Maguire contending

Justin Rose. Picture © USGA

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are six shots behind an impressive Justin Rose after the opening round of the Dell Technologies Championship at a windy TPC Boston.

McIlroy was one-under par with six holes to play but while he bogeyed the 13th and 15th, he got up and down from greenside sand at the 18th, making a seven-footer for a closing birdie to post a level par 71 and match FedEx Cup leader Bryson DeChambeau.

It was a struggle for the Co Down man, who hit just six fairways and failed to hit his approaches close in the second FedEx Cup playoff event, racking up 32 putts on slick greens.

He could have his work cut out to catch Rose, who birdied the 17th and 18th for an immaculate, six-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Abraham Ancer and Russell Knox as he seeks a win that could make him world No 1.

Knox is one of several Europeans hoping for a Ryder Cup wildcard and he was also impressive, picking up five shots in his last six holes for his 66 with the highlight a 109-yard hole-out for an eagle two at the 15th.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Credit, Getty Images

Rafa Cabrera Bello shot three-under 68 and Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey both posted 69s to give Bjorn food for thought while US skipper Jim Furyk got confirmation of Woods’ fighting qualities when the veteran came back from three over after seven holes to card a one-over 72.

"When I did miss it, I missed it in bad spots," Woods said. "Hopefully, I can miss in the correct spots and make a few more birdies than that tomorrow."

Bezuidenhout leads in Denmark

On the European Tour, South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout carded seven under 65 to lead the Made in Denmark by two shots from Lee Westwood (65) and Jonathan Thomson (68) on 13-under. 

That's bad news for Ryder Cup hopefuls Eddie Pepperell and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who must win to overhaul local hero Thorbjørn Olesen and qualify automatically. Scores

As Olesen recovered from his opening 73 with a 68 to make the cut, Pepperell shot 69 to trail Bezuidenhout by eight shots with Fitzpatrick a shot further back after a 68.

“Obviously I need a very low scoring weekend to win but that is not impossible," Fitzpatrick said. "It will take a silly low weekend though. I think if I could shoot a couple of 64s then I would have a chance.”

Adri Arnaus © golfsupport.nl

If Fitzpatrick were to win, a tie for seventh with one other or better would see Olesen keep the final place, while a top 12 from the Dane would keep a victorious Pepperell at bay.

Caldwell lurking in France

On the Challenge Tour, Clandeboye's Jonathan Caldwell shot a five-under 65 in the second round of the Cordon Golf Open to move up to tied third, just a shot behind leaders Ben Evans and Adri Arnaus on seven-under. Scores

Gavin Moynihan (66) and Dermot McElroy (72) are tied for 15th, just four behind, with Michael Hoey (70) tied 25th on three-under and Cormac Sharvin (71) scraping in for the weekend on one-over.

Late mistakes costly for Clarke

Darren Clarke dropped three shots in his last two holes, finishing double-bogey, bogey to open with a level par 70 in the PGA Tour Champions’ Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary.
He's six shots behind Miguel Angel Jiménez and Kirk Triplett, who shot six-under 64s (scores) while on the Staysure Tour, Paul Streeter fired a six-under-par 66 to lead the Travis Perkins Masters by three strokes from Carl Mason and James Kingston at Woburn.

Des Smyth is tied 14th after a 72 and Brendan McGovern 23rd after a 73.

Mark Young with Tulfarris' Pat Barrett and Jim Murphy CEO of PREM Group

No joy for Irish at Tulfarris

On the PGA Europro Tour, Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney double bogeyed the 18th for a 71 and overnight leader John Ross Galbraith made bogey for a 74 to miss out on a playoff for the PREM Group Irish Masters at Tulfarris.

They tied for fourth on eight-under (£1,750 each), a shot outside a three-way playoff where England’s Mark Young parred the 18th to beat Ashley Mansell and Tomasz Anderson and clinch his third win of the season and a cheque for £10,000.  Scores

Leona four back in South Dakota

On the Symetra Tour, Leona Maguire followed a career-low 65 with a two-over 72 to slip four shots behind clubhouse leader Dottie Ardina (67) in the Sioux Falls Greatlife Challenge in South Dakota.

She was tied for sixth on three-under par with Stephanie Meadow 11 shots off the lead on four-over after rounds of 73 and 71. Scores

Ardina leads by one from Elizabeth Nagel (66),  Sweden's Linnea Johansson (66) and Allyssa Ferrell (67)