Reed Takes First-Round Lead as Stars Fade at Tough Blue Monster


Only six players completed their rounds Thursday in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Miami. When the rest of the field returned Friday morning to finish their rain-delayed opening 18 holes, the wind had shifted to create an entirely different-colored Blue Monster course.

At the conclusion of the first round, Patrick Reed was atop the leaderboard at 4-under 68, while fellow Americans Harris English, Jason Dufner, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan, along with Italy's Francesco Molinari, shot 69s.

Just 14 players broke par over the two days it took to finish the first round. The weather forecast calls for more rain Friday, but the weekend looks sunny and mild.

Among those most who didn't was defending champion and No. 1-ranked Tiger Woods, who was 2-over through 10 holes before heading to the clubhouse Thursday evening when darkness postponed play.

Woods ended up with three birdies, five bogeys and a double on the par-4 14th hole for a 4-over 76, his highest score in 40 completed rounds at Doral. His playing partners, No. 2-ranked Adam Scott and No. 3 Henrik Stenson, also didn't fare well.

Scott, the 2013 Masters champion carded a 75, a mark matched by four-time major champion Ernie Els, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood. Stenson shot 73.

Other skyrocketing scores included a 76 by Rickie Fowler, a 77 by Steve Stricker, and a 78 by Jim Furyk. 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson had an 80 on the Blue Monster, which underwent a major remodel by architect Gil Hanse following Donald Trump's acquisition of the iconic South Florida resort last year.

No. 6 Rory McIlroy managed to escape relatively unscathed with a 2-under 70, but his playing partner, fifth-ranked Phil Mickelson, didn't. "Lefty" had a 74.

Fourth-ranked Jason Day was scheduled to play in the threesome with Mickelson and McIlroy but pulled out before the start of Thursday's opening round because of an ailing left thumb. Day's withdrawal reduced the size of the field to 69.

For all the scores in the $9 million, no-cut PGA Tour event, visit http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/content/worldgolfchampionships/cadillac-championship/leaderboard.html.