Career day vaults Mickelson to the top

Jordan Spieth put on a show in the first round. But what does history suggest will happen next? Also, can Tiger figure out No. 11? Can anybody figure out No. 7? And is Sergio Garcia headed for company he’d rather not be keeping?

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The second round of the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP has been postponed due to expected heavy rains in Chiba, Japan. Officials made the decision before the round began due to forecasts of heavy rain throughout Friday, which is estimated to be close to three inches over the next 24 hours around Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. At this stage, the plan is to start the second round on Saturday morning between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. ET Friday). Related: Leaderboard | Tiger rebounds, shares lead | Woodland makes Presidents Cup case Tiger Woods and Gary Woodland share the first round lead at 6 under, with local favorite Hideki Matsuyama just a shot behind. After opening with three straight bogeys, the 81-time PGA TOUR winning Woods recorded nine birdies over the final 15 holes to take the first round lead for the first time since the 2018 TOUR Championship. Woods is attempting to join Sam Snead with a record 82 wins on the PGA TOUR. He has converted 15 of 30 18-hole leads in his career. The 43-year-old is in his first event since having knee surgery in August and now faces the prospect of long days with extra holes over the weekend – a fact he was already preparing himself for after the opening round. “It’s going to be sloppy and tough for us… and it’s going to be a grind on the weekend,� Woods said. “Hopefully I can keep it going.� Woodland has held an 18-hole lead/co-lead three times previously and is yet to convert it to victory. He matched Woods in the opening round as he looks to fight his way into the U.S. Presidents Cup team that will be captained by Woods. For the latest weather from the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, click here.

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FORT WORTH, Texas — Jordan Spieth knows how to finish right out of the rough, and still had the lead after three rounds at Colonial. RELATED: Leaderboard | Mark Russell, Slugger White team up one last time at Colonial After hitting his final drive Saturday into the thick grass on an incline right of the No. 18 fairway, Spieth recovered with an approach to 8 feet before rolling in the birdie putt that gave him the solo lead again over playing partner Jason Kokrak in the final group at the the Charles Schwab Challenge. Local favorite Spieth had his second consecutive round of 4-under 66 to get to 15 under at Colonial, where he was the 2016 champion and has been a runner-up two times. He led by one stroke over Kokrak, who had matched him for the lead with four birdies in a six-hole stretch before his closing par in his round of 66. The resurgent Spieth has the 54-hole lead for a PGA TOUR best-matching fourth time this season, all in a span of 11 tournaments. That stretch includes his win at the Valero Texas Open, the first time he had won since the 2017 Open Championship. Sergio Garcia, who was 21 when he got the first of his 11 PGA TOUR victories at Colonial 20 years ago, was alone in third at 10 under after a 68 with one bogey. Ian Poulter had the best round of the day with a 64 after getting started with four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the front nine, moving up 26 spots into a tie for fourth at 8 under with Sebastian Munoz (70). Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton was tied for sixth at 7 under with Brendon Todd and Patton Kizzire. Midway through the round, Spieth had another recovery out of the right rough, almost as impressive as his final hole even though that was only a par. Coming off his second bogey of the day, Spieth pulled out a driver and missed the fairway, leaving no shot to the No. 9 green fronted by water. He punched a shot safely into the fairway, pitched over the water to 12 feet and rolled in the par putt. Kokrak birdied the first two holes of the day to match the lead at 12 under. Spieth made a 13-foot birdie putt at the long, difficult par-3 No. 4 hole, but at the No. 5 hole that runs parallel to the Trinity River hit his first two shots both into the left rough and had first bogey in 41 holes at Hogan’s Alley this week. He got that stroke right back, and stretched the lead to three strokes with his 21-foot birdie at No. 6, where Kokrak had his second consecutive bogey. Both players had birdies at No. 15, Kokrak getting even at 13 under only for seconds before Spieth’s birdie there. Korkrak caught up again at 14 under with a 13-foot birdie at No. 17, and was in the middle of the fairway at No. 18 when his playing partner went way right. They will play again in the final group Sunday. The 36-year-old Kokrak got his first career victory in the CJ CUP @ Shadow Creek in Las Vegas in October. That was after he tied for third at Colonial last June, when the Charles Schwab Challenge marked the PGA TOUR’s resumption of competition after a 12-week pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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