FORT WORTH, Texas — Jason Bohn, Jeff Overton and Blake Adams shot 7-under-par 63s to share the first-round lead at the Colonial, where 2008 champion Phil Mickelson‘s return turned into a struggle after an impressive start Thursday.
Mickelson birdied the first two holes, but that was the lowest he got on a hot day with ideal scoring conditions. Lefty finished with a 1-over 71 and is tied for 89th place, while 75 players were under par.
“There’s no excuse. There’s no wind, the golf course is in perfect shape, and there were a lot of scores out there,” Mickelson said. “I just wasn’t one of them.”
Brian Davis was alone in fourth with a 64. Defending champion Steve Stricker shot 68.
Canseco to support Clemens
WASHINGTON — Jose Canseco plans to reiterate his previous support of Roger Clemens when the former slugger testifies before a federal grand jury next week in Washington.
One of Canseco’s lawyers, Gary Holmes, said that Canseco’s testimony “will be fully consistent” with a 2008 affidavit submitted in connection with the Clemens investigation.
In the sworn statement, dated March 2008, Canseco wrote, “I have never seen Clemens use, possess, or ask for steroids or human growth hormone.”
• Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano is day to day after going to a hospital for precautionary reasons because of lower abdominal pain.
Tests taken Thursday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital ruled out appendicitis.
• Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz will work out today before the team determines if his latest hamstring injury might require him to go on the disabled list again.
• St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse is set to undergo surgery on his right forearm today.
USOC: Safe training guidelines
COLORADO SPRINGS — The U.S. Olympic Committee plans to standardize guidelines outlining safe training environments for its athletes.
With recent reports about sex-abuse cases in swimming bringing the issue under the microscope, the USOC appointed four-time Olympic cross country skier Nina Kemppel to lead a 10-person task force, which expects to complete the project over the summer.
Kemppel hopes to produce a list of recommendations for the national governing bodies for the Olympic sports to follow.
“It’s going to be a tool kit of best practices,” she said.
Footnotes.
Usain Bolt won the 300-meter race in 30.97 seconds in the rain at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
• Ghana star midfielder Michael Essien will miss the World Cup after failing to recover from a knee injury in December.
• Germany’s Andre Greipel won the 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia in a mass sprint finish in Brescia, Italy, while David Arroyo Duran held onto the race leader’s pink jersey.
• Italian cyclist Francesco De Bonis has been suspended by the International Cycling Union for doping. The Associated Press
