Golf: Ryan Palmer leads Deutsche Bank Championship by two strokes

Norton, Mass. • Ryan Palmer took only 21 putts Friday at TPC Boston and birdied half of his holes.

That gave him an 8-under 63 and a two-shot lead over Keegan Bradley after the opening round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Palmer didn't miss a putt inside 15 feet and closed out his round with a pitching wedge to 18 feet, making the downhill putt for his ninth birdie.

Bradley matched his low round of the season, though what meant more was the timing. This is the final week before U.S. captain Tom Watson decides which three players he will pick to fill out his Ryder Cup team. Bradley wants to leave nothing to chance.

He played bogey-free in a gentle breeze.

Webb Simpson, who also needs a pick to return to the Ryder Cup, and Jason Day of Australia were among those at 66.

Jordan Spieth recovered from a double bogey to start his round and, with his entire family in tow, turned it around with four birdies and an eagle for a 67. Also at 67 was Ian Poulter, who seems certain to be a Ryder Cup pick for Europe on Tuesday.

Rory McIlroy was brilliant at times and sloppy at other times in his round of 70.

Phil Mickelson had a 74. He wasn't sure what to expect and even Lefty had to be surprised by his card that had six pars, six birdies, four bogeys, a double bogey and a triple bogey.

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Champions Tour • Tom Pernice Jr. and Bart Bryant shot 8-under 62 to share the first-round lead in the Shaw Charity Classic. in Calgary, Alberta.

The 54-year-old Pernice birdied his first five holes — Nos. 10-14 — and had 10 birdies and two bogeys at Canyon Meadows. The two-time PGA Tour winner won the Principal Charity Classic in June in Iowa for his third Champions Tour title.

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LPGA • I.K. Kim increased her lead to three strokes Friday in the Portland Classic, shooting a 5-under 67 to reach 12 under.

Spain's Carlota Ciganda and South Korea's Mi Jung Hur shot 65 to join Laura Diaz at 9 under. Diaz had a 68. —

Friday's results

Deutsche Bank Championship

Friday

At TPC Boston

Norton, Mass.

Purse • $8 million

Yardage • 7,216; Par • 71 (36-35)

First-round leaders

Ryan Palmer 33-30 — 63 -8

Keegan Bradley 32-33 — 65 -6

Jason Day 32-34 — 66 -5

Webb Simpson 35-31 — 66 -5

Chesson Hadley 34-32 — 66 -5

Jordan Spieth 35-32 — 67 -4

Ian Poulter 34-33 — 67 -4

Carl Pettersson 35-32 — 67 -4

Russell Knox 33-34 — 67 -4

Bill Haas 36-31 — 67 -4

Patrick Reed 33-35 — 68 -3

Jason Kokrak 34-34 — 68 -3

Kevin Chappell 35-33 — 68 -3

Charles Howell III 35-33 — 68 -3

Matt Every 33-35 — 68 -3

Billy Hurley III 36-32 — 68 -3

Shawn Stefani 36-33 — 69 -2

Matt Jones 33-36 — 69 -2

Seung-Yul Noh 36-33 — 69 -2

John Senden 35-34 — 69 -2

Ben Crane 35-34 — 69 -2

Luke Donald 36-33 — 69 -2

Chris Stroud 35-34 — 69 -2

Matt Kuchar 34-35 — 69 -2

Billy Horschel 36-33 — 69 -2

Henrik Stenson 35-35 — 70 -1

David Hearn 37-33 — 70 -1

Russell Henley 34-36 — 70 -1

J.B. Holmes 35-35 — 70 -1

Erik Compton 34-36 — 70 -1

Rory McIlroy 37-33 — 70 -1

Jimmy Walker 37-33 — 70 -1

Scott Stallings 35-35 — 70 -1

Geoff Ogilvy 35-35 — 70 -1

Bo Van Pelt 36-34 — 70 -1

Will MacKenzie 37-33 — 70 -1

Rickie Fowler 34-36 — 70 -1

Also

Daniel Summerhays 39-35 — 74 +3