BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Jeff Sluman birdied No. 17 en route to a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke lead over Fred Couples on Thursday after the first round in the Regions Tradition, the second of five Champions Tour majors.
Sluman, who had eight birdies, and Couples both had their only bogeys on No. 16.
Couples, the Presidents Cup captain and World Golf Hall of Famer, made a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 sixth hole and a 30-footer for birdie on the next hole. His only blemish was a bogey on the par-3 16th when he overshot the green and landed just into the line of spectators.
Duffy Waldorf and Peter Senior shot 67. Two-time defending champion Tom Lehman had a 69.
