Roberts shoots 64, leads by one

LEMONT, Ill. - Loren Roberts can still show the youngsters a thing or two.

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The 49-year-old shot a bogey-free 7-under-par 64 on Thursday, matching his best round of the year, and held on for the first-round lead at the Western Open. Former champion Robert Allenby is one stroke back after birdies on his last three holes, the only one to make a charge in the afternoon.

"I played real solid, tee to green," Roberts said. "I hit the ball extremely well as far as putting it where I wanted it and hit a lot of greens. I drove the ball in the fairway just about every hole. If you're going to make some putts, it equates to a low score."

Reigning British Open champion Ben Curtis leads a group three strokes back at 67. Defending champion Tiger Woods broke out a new, graphite driver with a larger club head, but it wasn't the answer for his sluggish game. He closed out a lackluster round with a bogey on the final hole, finishing at 70.

"I didn't play very well today," Woods said. "It's kind of how it's been. I get off to a great start, kind of lose it in the middle, then get it back. I just can't put it all together."

Roberts, on the other hand, had his whole game clicking.

He was in contention for his first win in two years three weeks ago at the Buick Classic, leading after 54 holes. But the man called the "Boss of the Moss" because of his brilliant putting touch had some rare struggles on the greens the final day, leading to 78 that dropped him into a tie for 16th.

So he went home and worked on his putting, and the extra effort paid off Thursday.

"I didn't hit anything real close to the hole, but I was very good in the 12- to 15- to 18-foot range with the putter," he said. "I made several of those, including a couple for pars in probably that 10- to 12-foot range, which really kept the round going."

One of his best was on the first hole, when he ran a 35-foot putt about eight feet past the hole and made the comeback to save par.

"That was a critical thing," he said. "That kind of set the tone."

He had four birdies on the front nine, including a 20-footer on the par-4 No. 7, and three more on the back. He saved par again to close his round, making a tough, uphill 10-footer on the slick 18th green.

EUROPEAN TOUR: In Straffan, Ireland, Paul Broadhurst, Maarten Lafeber and Nick O'Hern each shot 5-under-par 67 to share the first-round lead in the European Open.

U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen was just two shots behind the leaders, along with Lee Westwood, David Howell, Matthew Blackey and Jesus Maria Arruti.

Goosen said he felt "brain dead" for the first few holes despite opening with a birdie.

"Then I started seeing things more distinctly," he said.

He made four more birdies as he continued the impressive putting he produced at Shinnecock Hills.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: In East Meadow, N.Y., Jim Thorpe hasn't heard his name mentioned all week without 60 following close behind.

It has nothing to do with age - he's only 55 - that's what he shot last year on the way to winning the Long Island Classic.

He opens defense of his title today and almost everyone, including Thorpe, doubts anyone will match his second round from last year.

"The course has changed a lot since last year. The rough is a lot thicker and it's 400, 500 yards longer," he said of the Red Course at Eisenhower Park, a public course that is holding this event for the second time.

Thorpe's 10-under 60 matched the Champions Tour record for a low round and was one stroke off golf's magic number. He followed it with 67 and his 15-under 195 beat Bob Gilder by a stroke.