Baddeley hot on leaders' heels in PGA

Aaron Baddeley is two behind the leaders after posting a five-under 67 in the opening round of the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve.

The Australian made seven birdies and two bogeys to be tied fourth with Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

The event is being played opposite the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida.

The winner will receive a two-year exemption and gets in the PGA Championship, but will not be exempt for the Masters.

Chase Seiffert, who closed with a birdie for a seven-under 65, leads the tournament with Michael Kim.

Trying to win for the first time on the PGA Tour, Seiffert birdied Nos. 2-5, bogeyed the sixth and added birdies on Nos. 9, 13, 16 and 18.

"Absolutely stoked," Seiffert said. "We have wonderful conditions. I came out of the gates really putting well. That got my round off to a nice start.

"It seemed like every time I missed the green, it was an easy up-and-down, so... just kind of stress-free golf."

Kim had a bogey-free round. Since winning the John Deere Classic in 2018, he has made only 15 cuts in 75 starts on the PGA Tour, including one stretch of 25 consecutive events without making it to the weekend.

He was No.75 in the world when he won and now is at No.1030.

Ryan Brehm was a stroke back, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Aaron Baddeley shot 67.

University of Oklahoma senior Chris Gotterup had a 68 in his first tour round. He won the Puerto Rico Classic collegiate event two weeks ago at Grand Reserve.

Vaughn Taylor also was tied sixth after shooting 68 with Ben Kohles, Nick Hardy, Patrick Flavin, Australian Greg Chalmers, Peter Uihlein and Satoshi Kodaira.

Kurt Kitayama, third last week in the Honda Classic, shot a 76.