Ernie Els made an eagle and three birdies on Friday on his way to a five-under-par 67 in the opening round of the PGA Tour Champions Dick’s Sporting Goods Open at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York.
Els made his eagle on the par-five fifth when he reached the green in two. He had already made his first birdie, on the fourth, and he bracketed the eagle with another birdie on the sixth. He picked up another shot with a birdie on the 10th. He was three shots behind the leader, Joe Durant of the United States, and he shared second with Jason Schultz of the United States. They were a shot clear of 10 players on four-under in a share of fourth.
Retief Goosen opened with a one-over-par 70 to be on a share of 54th.
