Reuters/New Providence, Bahamas


A missed cut in his last start and an ongoing swing change proved to be no handicap for Jimmy Walker as he charged into a share of the lead in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Thursday.
The 36-year-old American, taking advantage of light breezes on a receptive layout softened by recent rain, birdied four of the last five holes as he fired a sizzling six-under-par 66 at Albany Golf Club in New Providence.
That left Walker, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, in a tie at the top with compatriot Zach Johnson and England’s Paul Casey in the elite 18-player event hosted by Tiger Woods to benefit his foundation.
World number one Jordan Spieth spectacularly aced the par-three second with a six-iron on the way to an opening 67, ending the day level with fellow Americans Bubba Watson, Bill Haas and Brooks Koepka, and Australian Adam Scott.
Walker, who has been working with his swing coach Butch Harmon on a different head move, was delighted to rebound from a missed cut at the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan last month with a scintillating eight-birdie display at Albany.
“I ran off to Japan on a whim and played really bad, I was kind of embarrassed,” Walker told Golf Channel.
“Since then, I haven’t been doing much but we really started working hard (on the swing) ... just a little head move, and I’ve had a hard time getting it. Doing it on the course is tough, it’s a big change, but I did it pretty well today.”
British Open champion Johnson, one of seven players ranked in the world’s top 11 who are competing at Albany, joined Walker and Casey in a three-way tie for the lead after picking up five shots after the turn.
“I put myself in a position to make some putts,” said Johnson. “The greens have gotten, the last two days, a lot faster and a lot better ... they are pure.
“There’s no excuse on missing a putt. You hit it good on the right line, it’s going to go in.”
Spieth, who tied for second on his title defence at the Australian Open last week, was once again back in contention as a reigning champion—this time after his hole-in-one and three birdies at Albany.
“I just needed to hit a nice punch-draw with a six-iron, 175 (yards) or so to the hole, it was playing about 185, 190,” the 22-year-old Texan said of his ace.
“It was right at it  but we didn’t think it went in. I thought it was about 10 or 12 feet long after I struck it. It took a little while in the air to drop.”
Gold Coast: Swede David Lingmerth mastered windy conditions to hold a one stroke lead at the halfway stage of the European Tour co-sanctioned Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast on Friday.
Lingmerth carded six birdies in his four-under 68 to lead a group of six golfers, including South African overnight leader Zander Lombard, after 36 holes.
World number 57 Lingmerth appeared to be one of few golfers with a good handle on the new-look course and the buffeting conditions.
“I know that I’ve won on the PGA Tour, probably the strongest tour in the world and I know I can do it,” Lingmerth said.
“Of course that gives me some confidence going into the weekend but at the same time, these are all players that can shoot seven, eight under, both rounds out there over the weekend.
“I’m going to have to play very well to win but I do feel like I should have a good shot.” Lingmerth said he was disappointed top US drawcard Brandt Snedeker failed to make the final cut, the 34-year-old American crashing out with a wretched 15-over-par for the tournament. “I want to beat him really bad ... but you want to beat the best players at their best, that’s what gives you confidence and strength,” he said.
South African pair Dylan Frittelli and Lombard, Englishman Mark Foster, American Peter Uihlein, Spain’s Pablo Martin Benavides and Australian Matthew Millar were one off the lead.  The day’s best performance came from US-based Australian Rhein Gibson, who fired a course record eight-under-par 64 to be two shots off the lead at one-under.