Ernie Els started his quest for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship with a bogey-free two-under-par 69 on Thursday as he finished the first round of the PGA Tour Champions season-finale in a share of sixth place.
Els, who leads the points standings as he seeks to win the tournament as well as the season-long points race which brings a bonus of $1-million with it, was five strokes off the lead which was held by Stweart Cink at seven-under-par. Cink’s 64 was three clear of Korea’s KJ Choi, and there were three players on three-under in a share of third. Els shared sixth with fellow World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer, Rod Pampling, Joe Durant and Alex Cejka. Els and Durant were the only two players without a bogey in the first round.
After the first round, Els is projected to win the Charles Schwab Cup.
Retief Goosen opened with a one-over-par 72 for a share of 23rd. He is projected to drop three places on the Charles Schwab Cup standings to 18th.
