Cink & Laird Early Leaders in Vegas


Stewart Cink and Martin Laird each fired a seven-birdie 64 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas to take the first-round lead in the PGA Tour's $6.2 million Shriners Hospital for Children Open.

The 41-year-old Cink and Laird, 31, - who a week ago started off with a bang in the Frys.com Open for the early lead but ended up tied for third, three shots behind winner Sang-Moon Bae - have a one-shot edge over Laird's fellow Scot Russell Knox.

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, Aussie Jarrod Lyle and Americans Bo Van Pelt, Brian Stuard, Andrew Svoboda and Sam Saunders share fourth after 66s.

Cink hasn't won since the 2009 British Open and is looking to get back on track after five years away from the winner's circle. Last season, the six-time Tour winner made 21 of 25 cuts, but didn't record a top-10 finish, earning $929,166.

"Last year was a close-call year," said the droll Alabama native, who now makes Georgia his home. "It could have been really good. I didn't have many good weekends.

"I especially had some rough patches that lasted four or five holes. I'd give myself a 'C' and that's probably being generous."

Defending champion Webb Simpson opened with a 69, while Bae a 71.

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