Stricker starts slowly in opener

KAPALUA, Hawaii — U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover returned to Kapalua and had another miserable start to the first round of a new PGA Tour season. The difference Thursday was how he finished.

Former Illini Steve Stricker opened with a 73.
Glover recovered from a double bogey on his opening hole by going 9 under par over a nine-hole stretch in the middle of his round. He finished it with a tap-in birdie for a 7-under 66 Thursday and a 1-shot lead in the season-opening SBS Championship.
The last time he qualified for this winners-only tournament, Glover began his season with four straight bogeys. This time, he hit a weak 4-iron that disappeared into the native shrubs and led to a double bogey.
“I was aiming 25 feet left of the hole and hit it 25 feet to the right,” he said. “I got what I deserved.”