Goosen credits lighter irons after a 65 and 15 greens at SAS

Retief Goosen hit 15 greens in regulation and shot a 7-under 65 in Friday’s opening round of the SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club. In his post-round interview, he pointed to a change to lighter irons.

That round put him one shot ahead of Richard Green’s 66 and two ahead of Tag Ridings’s 67. Saturday’s second round was already under way at publication, so those scores describe the completed first round.

“I hit a lot of good iron shots today for a change,” Goosen said.

Goosen finished four under par over his final four holes, Golfweek reported. A birdie at 15 was followed by an eagle on the par-five 17th and another birdie at 18. That closing stretch put him a stroke ahead of Green.

Green’s bogey-free 66 left him closest to Goosen. Five players opened with 68: Søren Kjeldsen, David Duval, Paul Goydos, Chad Campbell and Freddie Jacobson. Bernhard Langer was in the next group after a 69.

A second win in view

Goosen came to North Carolina fifth in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. He won the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in April and is chasing his first season with multiple PGA Tour Champions victories, according to VIVASPORT’s report.

Goosen also discussed his lighter irons in a Golf Channel interview after the round.

The tournament continues through Sunday, October 18. Saturday’s scores and positions are available on the tournament’s live leaderboard.