AKRON, Ohio — Rickie Fowler used a sharp short game to offset a mediocre day of ball-striking as he took an early one-shot clubhouse lead at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in the opening round on Thursday.
The in-form American, runner-up at last week's Quicken Loans National, fired a three-under-par 67 at a soft and receptive Firestone Country Club in the third of four World Golf Championships (WGC) events to be held this year.
Fowler's round included a birdie chip-in from just off the green at the par-four third before he ended the day a stroke in front of fellow American Robert Streb, Englishman Paul Casey and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson.