Nicklaus One Back at Senior Players

Jack Nicklaus, whose streak of competing in 154 majors for which he was eligible ended with his decision to skip the British Open next week, shot a five-under-par 67 on Thursday in the first round of the Senior Players Championship at Dearborn, Mich., and was one stroke off the lead.

The leaders at the TPC of Michigan, a course Nicklaus designed, are Hale Irwin and John Jacobs. Nicklaus, who birdied the final two holes, is tied with Bob Murphy and Terry Dill.

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Curt Byrum sank a 20-foot putt on his final hole for a seven-under 63 and a one-stroke lead over four players in the first round of the PGA Quad City Classic at Coal Valley, Ill.

Dave Stockton Jr., Hal Sutton, Steve Jones and D.A. Weibring each shot 64. Casey Martin shot a 66.

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Vickie Odegard and Dana Dormann tied for the opening-round lead of the LPGA Jamie Farr Kroger Classic at Sylvania, Ohio, at seven-under 64.

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Former Masters champion Craig Stadler and former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman were among the players who have withdrawn from the final qualifying competition for next week’s British Open.

Others withdrawing include Scott Verplank, Rocco Mediate, Steve Flesch and Russ Cochran.