Stricker leads Els by 1 stroke at Regions Tradition
Steve Stricker holds a narrow one-shot lead over Ernie Els after the opening round of the Regions Tradition, the first major championship of the PGA Tour Champions season.
Stricker carded a 4-under 68 at Greystone Golf and Country Club on Thursday, while Els sits one stroke back after a 3-under 69.
Stricker, the 2021 Regions Tradition champion, made four birdies and an eagle on the front nine, but he gave two strokes back with bogeys on Nos. 10 and 12. He steadied the ship with a birdie on No. 13 and finished with five pars.
Els, the 2012 Regions Tradition winner, birdied four of his first eight holes and made the turn in 4-under 32. He dropped a shot on the par-4 10th hole, but he rebounded with a birdie on the par-5 13th to get back within one of Stricker.