Retief Goosen made seven birdies and two bogeys on Friday in the first round of the PGA Tour Champions Ascension Charity Classic at Norwood Hills Country Club in St Louis, Missouri on his way to a five-under-par 66.
Goosen was in a share of seventh, two shots off the four-way share of the lead which was held by Americans Billy Mayfair, Kevin Sutherland and Tim O’Neal and Korea’s YE Yang. They led by one from Brian Gay and Wes Short Jr. Goosen shared seventh with Germany’s Alex Cjeka and Americans Ken Duke and Steve Flesch.
Goosen picked up five birdies on the front nine, dropping a shot on the fifth, and two on the back nine with a bogey coming on the 16th. His round opened very well with three birdies in a row on the first three holes.
Ernie Els was two shots back on three-under in a share of 16th.
