GREENSBORO, N.C.  – Heath Slocum needs a strong finish at the Wyndham Championship to earn a spot in the PGA Tour’s postseason.

Scott Langley might not be on the playoff bubble – but he sure knows how his friend is feeling.

Slocum and Langley each shot 5-under 65 for the second straight day Friday to share the lead at 10-under 130.

Brian Stuard, Nick Watney, Martin Laird and Andrew Svoboda were a stroke back. Watney and Svoboda shot 64, Stuard had a 65 and Laird a 66.

Ryo Ishikawa had the best round of the day – a 62 that was one stroke off the course record and included six birdies on the back nine.

Since the tournament returned to Sedgefield Country Club in 2008, every two-day leader until now had been at 11 under or better.

In what’s become an annual rite of mid-August, the field is littered with players trying to prolong their seasons for at least one more week by cracking the top 125 on the points list and qualifying for the first round of the playoffs, which begin next week at The Barclays in New Jersey.

Langley isn’t one of them.

The second-year pro’s main concern is chasing his first PGA Tour victory.

He isn’t feeling quite as much stress as he did here last year, when he missed the cut yet squeaked into The Barclays at No. 124.

“Last year, so much going through my head as a rookie, not knowing how to handle it,” Langley said. “I was thinking a little too much about things that I really have no control over in terms of keeping my card, what other guys are doing. Lesson learned.”

Langley ran off three straight birdies early in his round and closed with two in a row after putting both of his approach shots less than 6 feet from the stick.

At No. 81 on the points list, his spot next week is safe.

Slocum’s isn’t.

He’s at No. 158 but is well aware that if you can somehow get into the playoffs, anything can happen.

Five years ago, he made the playoffs “by the skin of my teeth” at No. 124 – and then went on to win The Barclays.

“I came into this week trying to create a little bit of momentum for me to whether I could somehow get myself into the playoffs or the (Web.com) finals,” Slocum said.

Slocum had seven birdies and moved atop the leaderboard after a run of four in a row late during his second consecutive 65.

He sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the 13th before twice sticking approach shots within seven feet of the flagstick and converting those short putts.

“It was a good stretch, and obviously at this point, you’re going to need a lot,” Slocum said. “You’re going to have to have some of that to keep yourself in contention and go for it.”

Indeed, that put the Florida player in position to challenge for his fifth PGA Tour victory and first since the McGladrey Classic in 2010.

“I do miss this feeling of being in contention,” Slocum said. “Not being in contention for a while, I’m going to savor it.”

Svoboda briefly joined them at 10 under with a birdie on the 17th, but slipped back after missing a 20-foot par putt on the 18th and closing with a bogey.

First-round leader Camilo Villegas, who opened with a 63, put two strong rounds together after his 69 left him in a pack of players two strokes back.

He had three birdies but closed his round with his first two bogeys of the tournament, coming on the 17th and 18th.

Still, his low score was an indication of progress: He struggled each of the last two times he held a first-round lead, missing the cut at last year’s Honda Classic and finishing 71st at the John Deere.

“The golf course is not easy,” Villegas said. “Seven-under out here was pretty good yesterday. One under out here today wasn’t bad. I’ll take that and keep going.”

Among those bubble players who came to Sedgefield hoping to play their way into the postseason, No. 125 Paul Casey shot a 69 to move to 6 under and put himself well past the cut line of 2 under.

Others ran into bubble trouble: No. 122 Robert Allenby, No. 127 Charlie Beljan and No. 128 Greg Chalmers were among the borderline players who missed the cut.

Brad Fritsch is the leading Canadian, he’s tied for 7th after carding a 63 in Friday’s second round.

TORONTO – From soothing hot stone therapy in the state-of-art fitness wing to Friday movie nights by the family-friendly pool for children and teens, Donalda Club is anything but your average country club.

For the past decade, golf clubs across North America have been faced with a rapidly changing landscape as many chase new members to try and keep their rosters full. At Donalda Club, which sits at the southwest corner of Highway 401 & 404 in Toronto, it’s not so much the need for new blood, but revitalization from within and innovative programming that drives new growth.

“We offer our members a lot more than just a golf course, or even traditional country club activities like curling and tennis,” says Brett Mance, Donalda’s Membership and Marketing Director. “I believe that really sets us apart from other clubs and it is a model that some clubs are looking at. We have certainly had a few club GMs through our doors in the past few months and they have been impressed. The vision of the Donalda Club is to be the finest family-oriented, golf and multi-activity Club in Canada.”

While golf is the foundation that the club was built upon when it opened in 1960, Donalda Club now offers; 12 Har-Tru clay tennis courts, including six in the winter under a tennis bubble; four sheets of ice for curling, two international singles squash courts, a family-friendly outdoor swimming pool with slide and splash pad, a new fitness center with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the golf course that has been open for less than a year, a full-service indoor golf academy with four high-definition golf simulators, a junior lounge and varied dining options highlighted by; a wrap-around sports bar, outdoor terrace with BBQ kon tiki bar and fine dining in the Log Room, as well as elegant banquet and wedding facilities. There’s a new Men’s Locker Room and a $ 1.2 million renovation to the Ladies’ Locker Room is scheduled for this fall.

“It’s not just the golf course or the other facilities that make Donalda Club a special place, it’s the wide variety of social activities and programs that bring members together to create the Donalda family,” Mance says. To that point, the club offers weekly jazz nights and monthly five-course wine tasting dinners for foodies. In the fitness studio there’s everything from; Pilates, Yoga, and Aqua-Fit to Interval Training, Spinning and Cardio Kick-Boxing to name-drop a few of the classes; as well as a dietician, massage therapist and 20-plus instructors. For the children there’s; teen yoga, karate, swimming, golf, tennis and curling with amazing clinics, camps and specialized lessons for those ready to take their game to the next level. And let’s not forget the vibrant bridge section.

There is also a wonderful 18-hole layout that has been completely revamped over the past 20 years by architect Tom McBroom, including a course closure from August 2013 to June 28^th, 2014. They rebuilt the greens to modern USGA standards with a consistent new look and a weather-tolerant bentgrass turf, plus a few additional tweaks here and there. “Bottom line is that in my opinion, the new Donalda greens are amongst the best in the country for interest, detail and character,” McBroom says.

“Some of our members call Donalda Club their cottage in the city, others will tell you it’s their second home, some families have been here for two or three generations, others are just getting started,” Mance says. “Most of all they’re just looking for a place to relax and the opportunity to spend time with family and friends with a diverse array of fun activities to choose from.”

Since opening in 1960, Donalda Club has been family-oriented and continues that fine heritage today with a great reputation. The Club, which is nearing capacity of 700 families, remains unique in its membership structure as all three levels of membership provide a variety of family options.

Donalda offers a secondary Activity Membership, which allows families to access all activities with limited access to golf. A Dining Membership provides access to the dining & meeting facilities, the pool and bridge groups for the entire family. Total membership is hovering around the 3,000 mark, including about 1,100 members under the age of 26.

TORONTO – From soothing hot stone therapy in the state-of-art fitness wing to Friday movie nights by the family-friendly pool for children and teens, Donalda Club is anything but your average country club.

For the past decade, golf clubs across North America have been faced with a rapidly changing landscape as many chase new members to try and keep their rosters full. At Donalda Club, which sits at the southwest corner of Highway 401 & 404 in Toronto, it’s not so much the need for new blood, but revitalization from within and innovative programming that drives new growth.

“We offer our members a lot more than just a golf course, or even traditional country club activities like curling and tennis,” says Brett Mance, Donalda’s Membership and Marketing Director. “I believe that really sets us apart from other clubs and it is a model that some clubs are looking at. We have certainly had a few club GMs through our doors in the past few months and they have been impressed. The vision of the Donalda Club is to be the finest family-oriented, golf and multi-activity Club in Canada.”

While golf is the foundation that the club was built upon when it opened in 1960, Donalda Club now offers; 12 Har-Tru clay tennis courts, including six in the winter under a tennis bubble; four sheets of ice for curling, two international singles squash courts, a family-friendly outdoor swimming pool with slide and splash pad, a new fitness center with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the golf course that has been open for less than a year, a full-service indoor golf academy with four high-definition golf simulators, a junior lounge and varied dining options highlighted by; a wrap-around sports bar, outdoor terrace with BBQ kon tiki bar and fine dining in the Log Room, as well as elegant banquet and wedding facilities. There’s a new Men’s Locker Room and a $ 1.2 million renovation to the Ladies’ Locker Room is scheduled for this fall.

“It’s not just the golf course or the other facilities that make Donalda Club a special place, it’s the wide variety of social activities and programs that bring members together to create the Donalda family,” Mance says. To that point, the club offers weekly jazz nights and monthly five-course wine tasting dinners for foodies. In the fitness studio there’s everything from; Pilates, Yoga, and Aqua-Fit to Interval Training, Spinning and Cardio Kick-Boxing to name-drop a few of the classes; as well as a dietician, massage therapist and 20-plus instructors. For the children there’s; teen yoga, karate, swimming, golf, tennis and curling with amazing clinics, camps and specialized lessons for those ready to take their game to the next level. And let’s not forget the vibrant bridge section.

There is also a wonderful 18-hole layout that has been completely revamped over the past 20 years by architect Tom McBroom, including a course closure from August 2013 to June 28^th, 2014. They rebuilt the greens to modern USGA standards with a consistent new look and a weather-tolerant bentgrass turf, plus a few additional tweaks here and there. “Bottom line is that in my opinion, the new Donalda greens are amongst the best in the country for interest, detail and character,” McBroom says.

“Some of our members call Donalda Club their cottage in the city, others will tell you it’s their second home, some families have been here for two or three generations, others are just getting started,” Mance says. “Most of all they’re just looking for a place to relax and the opportunity to spend time with family and friends with a diverse array of fun activities to choose from.”

Since opening in 1960, Donalda Club has been family-oriented and continues that fine heritage today with a great reputation. The Club, which is nearing capacity of 700 families, remains unique in its membership structure as all three levels of membership provide a variety of family options.

Donalda offers a secondary Activity Membership, which allows families to access all activities with limited access to golf. A Dining Membership provides access to the dining & meeting facilities, the pool and bridge groups for the entire family. Total membership is hovering around the 3,000 mark, including about 1,100 members under the age of 26.

32 garçons et 8 filles seront en action pour un premier tour de confrontation le 18 août. Les quarts de finale, ainsi que les demi-finales seront jouées le 19 août du côté masculin, alors que les demi-finales et la grande finale du côté féminin seront disputées cette même journée. La finale du côté masculin sera jouée le 20 août.

Vainqueur de l’édition en 2012, le membre de l’équipe nationale de développement, Étienne Papineau, tentera de récupérer sa couronne et de devenir le premier golfeur junior à remporter le championnat provincial à plus d’une reprise depuis Lee Curry de Rideau View en 1997. Le jeune talent l’avait emporté à trois reprises, soit de 1995 à 1997.

Championne de l’édition 2013, la golfeuse du Royal Québec, Océane Jacques, tentera de rejoindre les deux seules autres golfeuses à voir mis la main sur le titre deux années consécutives, soit Christine Boucher (1998 et 1999) et Valérie Tanguay (2011 et 2012).

L’an dernier, la Québécoise l’avait emporté sur Noémie Ouellette au compte de 5-3. Ouellette sera l’une des principales prétendantes au titre cette fois encore aux côtés de la championne en titre, ainsi qu’Annie Lacombe du Blainvillier, Audrey Paradis du Mirage et Noémie Paré de Victoriaville.

Sherbrooke, Qué.  – Canada’s top senior women are readying to compete in the 43^rd playing of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, hosted by Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, Qué. from August 18 – 24, 2014. A practice round will be staged on Monday August 18, 2014.

The 54-hole stroke play competition is open to female amateur players over the age of 50. In the past, the tournament has seen the talent of Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Marilyn Palmer O’Connor, Gayle Hitchens Borthwick (four-time Canadian Women’s Senior Champion), Marlene Stewart-Streit (four-time Canadian Women’s Senior Champion), and defending champion Mary Ann Hayward. This year, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur hosted in Deal, N.J.

“The Canadian Women’s Senior is an excellent showcase of the strong golf talent fostered here in Canada,” said Tournament Director Justine Decock. “The skills and dedication demonstrated by the ladies in this tournament is both admirable and inspiring.”

Club de golf Milby, located in Sherbrooke, Qué. is set to host the three-day tournament. The Howard Watson designed course is well-versed in hosting championships, having most recently played host to the Canada Games in 2013 and the Québec Women’s Amateur in 2007.

“We are excited to be hosting this year’s Canadian Women’s Senior Championship,” said Host Club Tournament Chair Guy Faucher. “The course is in great shape and we are looking forward to seeing some great talent here in Sherbrooke.”

Leading the field this year is three-time champion Mary Ann Hayward, 54, of Aurora, Ont., who will look to defend her 2013 title. Before a fourth place finish in 2012, Hayward also captured the champion title in 2010 and 2011. Hayward has not only achieved a strong standing in the Senior Women’s Championship, but has also had an illustrious career as an amateur that’s seen her inducted into both the Ontario and Québec Golf Hall of Fames and also the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Highlighting her remarkable career are four wins at the Canadian Women’s Amateur, six wins at the Québec Women’s Amateur, five titles at the Ontario Women’s Amateur and 12 wins at the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship (the most wins ever recorded by an individual at a provincial championship). Hayward has also made history as the first Canadian to win the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur title.

Also highlighting this year’s field is Hall of Famer and four-time Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Alison Murdoch, 64, of Victoria, B.C. and two-time champion Jackie Little, 56, of Port Alberni, B.C. Murdoch has had a successful international golf career, claiming British and Irish Senior events, as well as senior titles in British Columbia, Alberta, and Washington State. Little has had a stellar 2014 season, taking home her fourth British Columbia Women’s Senior title, as well as the Mid-Master Champion title.

Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.

WELLAND, ON – It was a crowded leaderboard heading into the final round of the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2014 Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship as three players entered the day with a share the lead, while nine others were all within three shots.

Conditions were windy at Hunters Pointe Golf Course in Welland for the final round on Aug. 14. First-round leader and co-leader after the second round, Oakville’s Larry Cooper was able to tame those conditions to play great golf and capture his first Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.

“I came down early and played a practice round with Sandy Billyard, who co-owns the course and I really got to learn a lot about it,” said Cooper. “The wind makes a huge difference on this golf course and you really need to pick the right club and I seemed to do that today. I tried to keep the ball down in the wind and made sure I was finishing low at the target.”

Cooper attributed much of his success during the week to his flat stick.

“My putter was really solid. I made a lot of good putts, putts for par when I needed to, so I was very pleased with that.”

Cooper, 57-years-old from the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, took the outright lead after a birdie on the third hole. He would par the remaining six on the front nine and was at one-under at the turn. He continued to play well on the back nine beginning with a trio of birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes. He would go on to finish the round four-under (68) and four-under for the tournament.

“The senior group is a great group of guys. Everyone is pulling for each other, which is really nice. I love the spirit of they have to offer.  Last year, I played the event and lost in a playoff, this year I was lucky enough to win and it feels really nice to come back and win it.”

Finishing second was Lars Melander from the Hidden Lake Golf Club. The Oakville resident finished the final round three-over (75) and the tournament at three-over. Melander had a rough start to the day and was five-over through 15 holes. However, he would birdie 16 and 18 to claim the silver medal. Melander also was crowned champion of the 60+ Division.

Rounding out top three were Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos and Collingwood’s Michael Jackson who both ended the tournament at six-over. For Kertsos, he finished the day at three-over (75). As for Jackson, he was six-over (78).

Georgetown’s Reg Finlayson captured the 70+ Division, for the third consecutive year, with a final round of six-over (78) to end the tournament at 17-over.

With their podium finish Cooper and Melander earned the right to represent Ontario at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship, Aug. 26-29 at Capilano Golf & Country Club in West Vancouver, B.C. Brampton’s Rick Dobbs-Hebron joined them after earning the third spot in a playoff.

For more information and the final leaderboard, click here.

WELLAND, ON – It was a crowded leaderboard heading into the final round of the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2014 Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship as three players entered the day with a share the lead, while nine others were all within three shots.

Conditions were windy at Hunters Pointe Golf Course in Welland for the final round on Aug. 14. First-round leader and co-leader after the second round, Oakville’s Larry Cooper was able to tame those conditions to play great golf and capture his first Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.

“I came down early and played a practice round with Sandy Billyard, who co-owns the course and I really got to learn a lot about it,” said Cooper. “The wind makes a huge difference on this golf course and you really need to pick the right club and I seemed to do that today. I tried to keep the ball down in the wind and made sure I was finishing low at the target.”

Cooper attributed much of his success during the week to his flat stick.

“My putter was really solid. I made a lot of good putts, putts for par when I needed to, so I was very pleased with that.”

Cooper, 57-years-old from the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, took the outright lead after a birdie on the third hole. He would par the remaining six on the front nine and was at one-under at the turn. He continued to play well on the back nine beginning with a trio of birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes. He would go on to finish the round four-under (68) and four-under for the tournament.

“The senior group is a great group of guys. Everyone is pulling for each other, which is really nice. I love the spirit of they have to offer.  Last year, I played the event and lost in a playoff, this year I was lucky enough to win and it feels really nice to come back and win it.”

Finishing second was Lars Melander from the Hidden Lake Golf Club. The Oakville resident finished the final round three-over (75) and the tournament at three-over. Melander had a rough start to the day and was five-over through 15 holes. However, he would birdie 16 and 18 to claim the silver medal. Melander also was crowned champion of the 60+ Division.

Rounding out top three were Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos and Collingwood’s Michael Jackson who both ended the tournament at six-over. For Kertsos, he finished the day at three-over (75). As for Jackson, he was six-over (78).

Georgetown’s Reg Finlayson captured the 70+ Division, for the third consecutive year, with a final round of six-over (78) to end the tournament at 17-over.

With their podium finish Cooper and Melander earned the right to represent Ontario at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship, Aug. 26-29 at Capilano Golf & Country Club in West Vancouver, B.C. Brampton’s Rick Dobbs-Hebron joined them after earning the third spot in a playoff.

For more information and the final leaderboard, click here.

AALBORG, Denmark – Thomas Bjorn shot a 5-under 66 for a three-way share of the lead after the first round of the Made in Denmark on Thursday, boosting his chances of securing a place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

Playing in his home tournament, Bjorn made five birdies and did not drop a shot in gusty conditions. He was tied for first with Felipe Aguilar of Chile and Bradley Dredge of Wales.

They led by three shots from Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark, who hit a bogey-free 69. Nine players carded 70.

Bjorn hasn’t played in the Ryder Cup since 2002, but a victory on the Himmerland Resort course will guarantee him a spot in the European team for the match against United States at Gleneagles next month.

Bjorn has occupied a position in the automatic qualifying places since December.

“I am happy with the day and happy with the start. It was pretty solid all way round,” said Bjorn, who earned his first professional victory at Himmerland in 1995.

Aguilar, a two-time European Tour winner, briefly led with a birdie on the par-four 8th hole, his 17th, but Bjorn, playing a hole behind, immediately responded in kind. They both parred the last. Dredge, who also has won two European Tour events, recovered from bogeying the second, his 11th hole, to birdie five of his last seven holes.

Paul Lawrie of Scotland and Soren Larsen of Denmark pulled out of the tournament because of injuries.

This is the inaugural tournament, and the first time since 2003 that a European Tour event is held in Denmark.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Camilo Villegas got away from golf for a little while, and his game came back.

A recharged Villegas shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round at the Wyndham Championship.

North Carolina natives Webb Simpson and William McGirt shot 64, and Scott Langley, Heath Slocum, Paul Casey, Andrew Loupe and Martin Laird were another stroke back in the final event before the PGA Tour’s playoffs.

Villegas hasn’t won since 2010 and has only two top-10 finishes in the last three years.

After pulling out of the RBC Canadian Open after one round last month, he spent the past week back in his native Colombia for “a little recharge” – leaving his clubs behind in Florida.

“I just thought it was appropriate to hop on a plane and see mom and dad and recharge a little bit,” Villegas said.

It helped him make a late charge up the Sedgefield Country Club leaderboard.

Starting on the back nine, he had three early birdies before getting even hotter late: He followed his birdie on the fourth with an eagle on the par-5 fifth, placing his second shot about 3 feet from the stick.

He claimed sole possession of the lead two holes later with a birdie, sinking a 15-foot putt on the par-3 seventh.

But early leads have been something of a curse at Sedgefield. Since the tournament returned to the course in 2008, the only first-round leader to win was Arjun Atwal in 2010.

And first-round leads haven’t exactly been kind to Villegas lately, either. He held two of them last year, but missed the cut at the Honda Classic and finished 71st at the John Deere.

“I’ve also played great rounds and played some good ones after that,” Villegas said. “It’s a matter of just coming out here and playing good golf tomorrow. There shouldn’t be any relationship between Thursday-Friday and Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday.”

Simpson, the 2011 winner, hopes to make an impression on U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson. His three captain’s picks are due next month. Simpson finished 15th on the Ryder Cup points list.

“It’s on my mind a little bit, but there are so many things I can’t control with what the captain does and how other guys play,” Simpson said. “I think if I have a good week this week – not just today but this week – it’ll show that I really want to make the team. I want to make a good argument for myself to be a pick.”

Simpson has always been a local favorite and top draw at this tournament – even before he claimed his first PGA Tour victory here three years ago, and well before he won the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club. The Raleigh native played college golf at nearby Wake Forest and lives in Charlotte.

Playing in the marquee grouping of the day along with fellow Wyndham winners Brandt Snedeker (2007) and Patrick Reed (2013), Simpson birdied his first four holes.

He was briefly at 7 -under before he wound up with a bogey on the 17th when his 3-foot par putt hit a spike mark.

“Normally, the ball will kind of pop right over, but it got it pretty good and went right,” Simpson said. “Late in the day, it happens to everybody.”

McGirt also played well after spending some time away from the game.

After his tie for 25th at the Canadian Open, the fourth-year pro took a break to paint his garage and – as the father of a 17-month-old son – joked that there were a “lot of dirty diapers I got to change.”

He also made a visit to his coach in Charleston, South Carolina, but otherwise kept his clubs in their travel case. He said he typically doesn’t play at all when he’s home.

“I mean, I love to play golf,” McGirt quipped. “But not that much.”

The 35-year-old McGirt who grew up near the North Carolina-South Carolina line in Fairmont closed with five birdies on the back nine to make up for two early bogeys. He wrapped up by sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

Laird needs a strong week here to climb into the playoffs beginning next week in New Jersey. He arrived at No. 136 on the points list and the top 125 qualify for The Barclays.

It’s a familiar position for him: As a rookie in 2008, he came to the Wyndham outside the playoff picture before his fourth-place tie pushed him into The Barclays.

“Since then, I’ve always liked this golf course,” Laird said. “It’s just a position course. Get in the fairway and kind of pick and choose your spots where you can go at flags. That’s the kind of golf I like.”

Tied for ninth is Mike Weir, who opened with a 4-under 66. Brad Fritsch is tied for 49th after carding a 1-under 69 Thursday.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Camilo Villegas got away from golf for a little while, and his game came back.

A recharged Villegas shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round at the Wyndham Championship.

North Carolina natives Webb Simpson and William McGirt shot 64, and Scott Langley, Heath Slocum, Paul Casey, Andrew Loupe and Martin Laird were another stroke back in the final event before the PGA Tour’s playoffs.

Villegas hasn’t won since 2010 and has only two top-10 finishes in the last three years.

After pulling out of the RBC Canadian Open after one round last month, he spent the past week back in his native Colombia for “a little recharge” – leaving his clubs behind in Florida.

“I just thought it was appropriate to hop on a plane and see mom and dad and recharge a little bit,” Villegas said.

It helped him make a late charge up the Sedgefield Country Club leaderboard.

Starting on the back nine, he had three early birdies before getting even hotter late: He followed his birdie on the fourth with an eagle on the par-5 fifth, placing his second shot about 3 feet from the stick.

He claimed sole possession of the lead two holes later with a birdie, sinking a 15-foot putt on the par-3 seventh.

But early leads have been something of a curse at Sedgefield. Since the tournament returned to the course in 2008, the only first-round leader to win was Arjun Atwal in 2010.

And first-round leads haven’t exactly been kind to Villegas lately, either. He held two of them last year, but missed the cut at the Honda Classic and finished 71st at the John Deere.

“I’ve also played great rounds and played some good ones after that,” Villegas said. “It’s a matter of just coming out here and playing good golf tomorrow. There shouldn’t be any relationship between Thursday-Friday and Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday.”

Simpson, the 2011 winner, hopes to make an impression on U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson. His three captain’s picks are due next month. Simpson finished 15th on the Ryder Cup points list.

“It’s on my mind a little bit, but there are so many things I can’t control with what the captain does and how other guys play,” Simpson said. “I think if I have a good week this week – not just today but this week – it’ll show that I really want to make the team. I want to make a good argument for myself to be a pick.”

Simpson has always been a local favorite and top draw at this tournament – even before he claimed his first PGA Tour victory here three years ago, and well before he won the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club. The Raleigh native played college golf at nearby Wake Forest and lives in Charlotte.

Playing in the marquee grouping of the day along with fellow Wyndham winners Brandt Snedeker (2007) and Patrick Reed (2013), Simpson birdied his first four holes.

He was briefly at 7 -under before he wound up with a bogey on the 17th when his 3-foot par putt hit a spike mark.

“Normally, the ball will kind of pop right over, but it got it pretty good and went right,” Simpson said. “Late in the day, it happens to everybody.”

McGirt also played well after spending some time away from the game.

After his tie for 25th at the Canadian Open, the fourth-year pro took a break to paint his garage and – as the father of a 17-month-old son – joked that there were a “lot of dirty diapers I got to change.”

He also made a visit to his coach in Charleston, South Carolina, but otherwise kept his clubs in their travel case. He said he typically doesn’t play at all when he’s home.

“I mean, I love to play golf,” McGirt quipped. “But not that much.”

The 35-year-old McGirt who grew up near the North Carolina-South Carolina line in Fairmont closed with five birdies on the back nine to make up for two early bogeys. He wrapped up by sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

Laird needs a strong week here to climb into the playoffs beginning next week in New Jersey. He arrived at No. 136 on the points list and the top 125 qualify for The Barclays.

It’s a familiar position for him: As a rookie in 2008, he came to the Wyndham outside the playoff picture before his fourth-place tie pushed him into The Barclays.

“Since then, I’ve always liked this golf course,” Laird said. “It’s just a position course. Get in the fairway and kind of pick and choose your spots where you can go at flags. That’s the kind of golf I like.”

Tied for ninth is Mike Weir, who opened with a 4-under 66. Brad Fritsch is tied for 49th after carding a 1-under 69 Thursday.