ATLANTA » Henrik Stenson changed his attitude and chose a different target at the Tour Championship.
Instead of smashing a driver and a locker, he demolished the front nine at East Lake on Thursday with a five birdies over a six-hole stretch that carried him to a 6-under 64 and a one-shot lead over Masters champion Adam Scott.
It was a big turnaround from Monday at Conway Farms, not only on his scorecard but between the ears.
"I just needed to realize the world is a good place again," Stenson said.
Stenson was playing his seventh tournament in 10 weeks when the BMW Championship was extended a day by rain. He slammed his driver so hard into the ground on the final hole that the head snapped off, and then he took out his frustrations on his wooden locker at Conway Farms.
Playing all 18 holes at East Lake for the first time, it looked like he couldn’t miss. On the opening seven holes, he had only one iron shot outside 10 feet, and he converted five of them for birdie.
"I really knew I had to be in a good frame of mind coming out there if I wanted to play good golf this week," he said. "As some of you noticed, I wasn’t that on Monday when I finished up in Chicago. So it was a good turnaround mentally. I stayed very level-headed — kept the head on, both myself and drivers, and played a great round of golf."
Tiger Woods didn’t make a thing. He shot a 73, matching his highest opening round of the year. He walked past reporters without comment.
Scott did his damage on the back nine, making six birdies in seven holes for a 29 that had him tied for the lead until Stenson finished off his remarkable round with a 5-iron from 223 yards to 4 feet for birdie on the par-3 closing hold.
If he wins, Scott would be a strong candidate for PGA Tour player of the year. That would give him three wins, compared with five wins for Woods, though Scott would have a major and the FedEx Cup.
Hawaii ties for 10th at USGA women’s event
Hawaii moved up four places in Thursday’s final round of the 10th U.S. Golf Association Women’s State Team Championship, finishing in a tie for 10th.
The team shot 5-over-par 151 to finish at 464.
New Jersey won with a three-day score of 446, at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio. It was led by co-medalist Alice Chen, who shot a 213, tied with Bryana Nguyen of Maryland.
Rose Huang led Hawaii, shooting a final-round 74 to finish seventh at 226. Aneka Seumanutafa tied for 51st at 82—243. Aiko Leong tied for 59th at 77—246.
