CROMWELL, Conn. — Zack Sucher found wrestling with chronic leg problems on the PGA Tour harder than wrestling alligators.
The 32-year-old from Alabama says he’s finally feeling healthy again after knee surgery sidelined him for 13 months following the 2017 Travelers Championship.
He shot a 5-under 65 in the rain Friday morning at TPC River Highlands and his 11-under 129 total held up in the afternoon sunshine for a two-stroke lead midway through the Travelers,
Sucher said he grew up in south Alabama doing “swamp stuff” like wrestling alligators and also played high school basketball. Chronic leg problems from that sport led to the surgery for a torn knee tendon and cartilage. Sucher worked his way back and is playing in just his fourth tour event this year. He gained a share of the lead on his final putt Thursday night and kept that momentum going with a 30 on his front nine Friday.
“It’s nice,” he said. “First year I can remember in a long time where I’m pain free and it’s feeling really good.”
Chez Reavie and Woodstock native Keegan Bradley were two shots back. Reavie, coming off a third-place tie last week in the U.S. Open, shot a 64.
Bradley had a 66, making an eagle in the rain from about 80 yards on the par-4 15th.
“I was talking to my caddie about how wet it was and it was going to skid,” he said. “We landed a little short of where we normally would and it went right in the hole.”
Jason Day made some adjustments to his putting game after an even-par first round. He made four straight birdies after opening with a par, shot a bogey-free 63 and was among seven players at 7 under.
Defending champion Bubba Watson was 5 under. He switched putters after a first-round 69 and had a 66, with bogeys on his final two holes. He had six birdies, including four in a row to start the back nine, rolling in putts from 28 feet on the 11th and 38 feet on the 12th.
Brooks Koepka said exhaustion after his runner-up finish at Pebble Beach played a role in his 71 on Thursday. He shot a 66 on Friday to get to 3 under.
CHASKA, Minn. — Hannah Green of Australia twice escaped trouble with par saves and shot 3-under 69, setting a daunting target at Hazeltine National with an early four-shot lead at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
She was at 7-under 137, four shots ahead of defending champion Sung Hyun Park (71) among those who played early under a cloud cover.
Nelly Korda was five shots behind after a 70.
MADISON, Wis. — Jerry Kelly shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead in his hometown American Family Insurance Championship.
Kelly played the back nine at University Ridge in 5-under 31. He has three PGA Tour Champions victories after winning three times on the PGA Tour.
Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz opened with a 76 in his third tour start.