Rose blooms as golf returns

MANILA, Philippines — Britain’s Justin Rose fired a seven-under par 63 Thursday to seize the early lead as the US PGA Tour ended a 91-day coronavirus shutdown and paid tribute to George Floyd.

Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, birdied seven of his first 12 holes then closed with six pars to grab a one-stroke clubhouse lead over Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

No spectators were allowed at Colonial, which featured increased safety measures such as social distancing and temperature taking in the wake of the deadly disease outbreak.

World number one Rory McIlroy, second-ranked Jon Rahm and third-ranked Brooks Koepka were set to tee off in the featured afternoon group in Fort Worth, Texas.

Spain’s Rahm could overtake four-time major winner McIlroy for the top spot with a win if the Northern Ireland star finishes in a four-way tie for second or solo third or worse.

The event observed a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. for George Floyd, whose killing by a white policeman in Minnesota sparked worldwide protests over racial and social injustice.

The time, 8:46, represents the eight minutes and 46 seconds in which the policeman held a knee to the back of the handcuffed black man.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stood in silence at the first tee while three short air horn blasts halted play across the course as well as work on the practice putting green and driving range.