Langer & Bryant Off to Good Starts in Insperity Invitational


Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant each fired 6-under 66s to tie for the opening-round lead in the Insperity Invitational. The $2 million, 54-hole Champions Tour event began Friday at The Woodlands Country Club in The Woodlands, Texas.

After just one birdie and eight pars on the front nine, the 56-year-old Langer carded pars on the first two back-nine holes before a bogey on the par-4 12th. But from that point forward, the 19-time winner on the over-50 circuit got red-hot, closing with a tournament-record-tying streak of six straight birdies.

"I three-putted 12, which really ticked me off because I only had a 9-iron in there and not that hard of a first putt," Langer said. "But something clicked after that."

The 51-year-old Bryant, who won the Dick's Sporting Goods Open last year in his rookie year on the Champions Tour, posted seven birdies and a bogey for his 66.

Bryant began play on the 10th tee and bogeyed his second hole before straightening things out. "I'll tell you, I played very solid golf today other than I hit it out-of -bounds on my second hole of the day on 11. That just kind of came out of nowhere," he said.

"Other than that, I hit the ball very well. I didn't make any mistakes and I just made a lot of really nice putts, a lot of 15-, 18-footers."

Alone in third after a 67 is defending champion Esteban Toledo. Toledo recorded his first of two titles on the over-50 circuit last year at The Woodlands CC, beating Mike Goodes and Gene Sauers in a playoff.

The Mexico native is thrilled to return to the site of the biggest victory in his career. "To be honest with you, I can't believe I see my pictures on those little badges," said Toledo, who also won the Montreal Championship in September. "It's funny to me. I've never seen anything like that. It kind of got me going."

Sharing fourth following 68s are Americans Joe Daley, Jeff Maggert and Fred Funk.

Tied for seventh after carding 69s are Americans Steve Lowery, Tommy Armour III, Steve Pate, Bob Tway, Mark O'Meara, Fred Couples and Joey Sindelar. Couples won the tournament in 2010.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/insperity-invitational/leaderboard.html.