Steve Stricker upstaged playing partner Tiger Woods to earn a share of the lead with fellow American Jim Furyk after the opening round at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Friday. Stricker notched eight birdies, including five in a row mid-round, to card an impressive eight-under-par 63 in delightful morning conditions at the Boston TPC.
Stricker and Furyk led by two strokes from a large group including South African Retief Goosen, who eagled the par-five 18th from 40 feet, and Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina. Co-leader Furyk got off to a scorching start, making five birdies in his first six holes and adding three more in bogey-free round to grab a share of the lead later in the day.
The Deutsche Bank Championship is the second of four events in the PGA Tour's play-off series after the Barclays Classic, won by American Heath Slocum in New Jersey on Sunday. Only the top 70 in points rankings will advance to next week's BMW Championship near Chicago. The overall winner takes $10 million in prize money.