NORTON, Massachusetts: Ryan Palmer rolled in nine birdies en route to a 63 to grab a two-shot lead after the first round of the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

The 37-year-old American is aiming for his fourth career US PGA Tour win. He finished runner-up earlier this year at the Honda Classic and the Humana Challenge.

“It’s been great the past couple of months,” Palmer said. “My short putting has been phenomenal.

“I’m making a lot more putts inside six feet. When you get the putts going from 15 (feet) and in, especially for birdie, it makes for good days.”

Palmer’s American compatriot Keegan Bradley is in sole possession of second after firing a bogey-free 65 at the TPC Boston.

Australia’s Jason Day, runner-up four years ago, has a share of third at five-under.

Day is tied with Americans Webb Simpson and Chesson Hadley. Simpson, who had one bogey and six birdies for a 66, won this event in 2011.

Palmer’s eight-under 63 is his lowest score at the Boston course. He missed the cut in his last two appearances in the event.

He started on the back nine and made bogey on the 10th. He erased that mistake with a 13-foot birdie putt on the 11th.

He capped his round with a birdie putt from 18 feet out on the ninth, his last.

“I’ve had that good feeling (with my putter) since the Open Championship,” said Palmer, who needed just 21 putts in his first round. “I took a small tip from (Shawn) Stefani, who was talking about his putting changes. I took a little something from that.”

Ian Poulter, who shared ninth here last year, posted a four-under 67. He was joined in sixth place by Sweden’s Carl Pettersson, Bill Haas, Scotland’s Russell Knox and Jordan Spieth.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson opened with a one-under 70 and is tied for 26th, along with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

The world No. 1 got off to a quick start making birdie on three of his first four holes but then cooled off with four pars and a bogey to finish the front nine.

McIlroy mixed two birdies and three bogeys over his final six holes.



Kim extends lead at Portland Classic

In Portland, Oregon, South Korea’s Kim In-Kyung fired a five-under 67 to stretch her lead to three shots after the second round of the LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic on Friday.

Kim, whose only top 25 finish this year came at the Swinging Skirts Classic, ended 36 holes at 12-under-par 132. The last of Kim’s three career wins on the USLPGA Tour came in the 2010 season.

“The greens were rolling much better in the morning, so that was kind of nice, and I hit the ball well, similar to yesterday. I’m really pleased with how I played on the par-fives,” said the 26-year-old Kim.

“I’m really pleased how I played the last two days, and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Carlota Ciganda and Hur Mi-Jung both fired seven-under 65s in the second round at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club. They moved into a share of second place at nine-under 135. They were joined there by Laura Diaz, who shot 68 in round two.

Last week’s winner Ryu So-Yeon carded a 66 to move into fifth place at six under. She was joined there by Mina Harigae (69), China’s Lin Xi Yu (68) and Paula Reto (69).

Amelia Lewis is alone in ninth place at seven-under 137 after posting a 71 on Friday.

Kim started her round with birdies on the 10th and 12th. After stumbling to a bogey on the 13th, she came right back with birdies on the 14th and 15th to move to 10-under.