Day and Tringale take Shootout lead

Australia’s Jason Day and American partner Cameron Tringale tied a record when they shot a 17-under-par 55 first round scramble in Greg Norman’s Franklin Templeton Shootout.

Day and Tringale took a two-shot lead in the field of 12 two-man teams after tying the tournament scramble record set by host Norman and Nick Price in 1993 and matched by Peter Jacobsen and John Cook in 1998 and Norman and Steve Elkington in 2005.

Day and Tringale were 12-under on the last 12 holes at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, making eagles on Nos. 13 and 14 and birdies on Nos. 9-12 and 15-18.

In scramble players both tee off then continue to play two balls from their selected best position until they hole out.

The second round will be modified alternate shot and the last round will be better ball.

“Scramble is one of those formats where you have to go at it and shoot lights out,” Day said.

“It definitely helps when you have a partner who hits it down the middle all the time and putts great.

“It’s great to be able to read the putt together, really put our minds together, because he’s a great putter,” Day said. “He always has been.”

Defending champions Matt Kuchar and Harris English opened with a 57. They birdied 14 of their last 15 holes.

“To go 15 is great,” Kuchar said. “To go 17 is quite amazing.

All 12 teams were 11 under or better.

Keegan Bradley-Camilo Villegas, Graeme McDowell-Gary Woodland and Ryan Palmer-Jimmy Walker shot 59.

Patrick Reed played two days after wife Justine suffered a grand mal seizure.

“We are really fortunate that she is OK,” Reed said.

Reed, a late replacement for Chris Kirk, teamed with Brandt Snedeker to shoot 61. They were tied for 10th.

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