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Silvis, Ill. • Jordan Spieth felt great Thursday on the first tee of the John Deere Classic. He heard not only his name, but, for the first time, the phrase "defending champion."
A par followed. Then another, and another after that. And then a bogey.
The playoff winner from 2013 was suddenly reeling.
"It was a struggle," Spieth said of the round, an even-par 71 he salvaged with birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. "I need to go find something on the range because I just wasn't comfortable over the ball today."
Spieth was eight strokes behind Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini and Brian Harman, whose 8-under-par 63s shared the lead after the opening round.
Then again, Spieth was six strokes behind the leaders entering last year's final round, and rallied to win, beating Johnson and David Hearn in a sudden-death playoff.
Women's British Open
In Southport, England, Ayako Uehara of Japan got her one mistake out of the way early and opened with a 4-under 68 to lead the Women's British Open on Thursday. Uehara and Mo Martin (69) were the only players to break 70.
Coming off her first major at the U.S. Women's Open, Michelle Wie missed half of her fairways and stuck to a conservative plan on the par 5s that produced only one birdie. That was on her final hole at Royal Birkdale and allowed her to salvage a 75.
U.S. Senior Open
In Edmond, Okla, Colin Montgomerie leads after the first round at the U.S. Senior Open. Montgomerie shot a 6-under par 65 in oppressive heat at Oak Tree National. The Scotsman started on 10 and birdied 14, 15 and 16 on the way to a 33 on the back nine.
Marco Dawson is second after a 66. He also started on the back nine and shot 2 under, then was steady on the front nine before making birdies on seven, eight and nine.
Mark Brooks shot a 68 and is third. —
Thursday's results
PGA-John Deere ClassicAt Silvis, Ill.
Purse • $4.7 million
Yardage • 7,268; Par • 71 (35-36)
a-amateur
First-round leaders
Zach Johnson 33-30—63 -8
Rory Sabbatini 31-32—63 -8
Brian Harman 32-31—63 -8
Todd Hamilton 32-32—64 -7
Steven Bowditch 32-32—64 -7
William McGirt 32-32—64 -7
Brendon de Jonge 33-32—65 -6
Kevin Tway 31-34—65 -6
David Toms 34-31—65 -6
Robert Streb 31-34—65 -6
Charles Howell III 31-35—66 -5
Ryan Moore 34-32—66 -5
Johnson Wagner 32-34—66 -5
Jerry Kelly 32-34—66 -5
Justin Hicks 32-34—66 -5
Trevor Immelman 32-34—66 -5
Harris English 36-31—67 -4
Bo Van Pelt 33-34—67 -4
Nicholas Thompson 35-32—67 -4
Bud Cauley 31-36—67 -4
Wes Roach 32-35—67 -4
Scott Brown 33-34—67 -4
Sean O'Hair 34-33—67 -4
Brice Garnett 34-34—68 -3
Kevin Na 31-37—68 -3
John Senden 32-36—68 -3
J.J. Henry 32-36—68 -3
Kevin Kisner 35-33—68 -3
Alex Prugh 35-33—68 -3
Ricky Barnes 32-36—68 -3
Troy Merritt 32-36—68 -3
Steve Stricker 32-36—68 -3
John Huh 33-35—68 -3 Also Daniel Summerhays 34-35—69 -2
Women's British Open At Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Southport, England
Purse • $3 million
Yardage • 6,458; Par • 72 (35-37)
a-amateur
First-round leaders
Ayako Uehara 33-35—68 -4
Mo Martin 35-34—69 -3
Mina Harigae 36-34—70 -2
Sarah Kemp 36-34—70 -2
Morgan Pressel 33-37—70 -2
Holly Clyburn 35-36—71 -1
Stacy Lewis 36-35—71 -1
So Yeon Ryu 36-35—71 -1
Amy Yang 35-36—71 -1
U.S. Senior Open At Oak Tree National Golf Club
Edmond, Okla.
Purse • TBA
Yardage • 7,219; Par • 71 (35-36)
a-amateur
First-round leaders
Colin Montgomerie 32-33—65 -6
Marco Dawson 32-34—66 -5
Mark Brooks 35-33—68 -3
Bernhard Langer 32-37—69 -2
Kirk Triplett 37-32—69 -2
Scott Dunlap 33-36—69 -2
Gene Sauers 35-34—69 -2
Vijay Singh 35-34—69 -2
Peter Jacobsen 34-36—70 -1
Fred Funk 35-35—70 -1
Olin Browne 36-34—70 -1
Rocco Mediate 34-36—70 -1
a-Jeff Wilson 35-35—70 -1
Lance Ten Broeck 36-34—70 -1
Jeff Sluman 34-36—70 -1
Russ Cochran 35-35—70 -1
Doug Garwood 34-36—70 -1 Also Dan Forsman 37-39—76 +5