Flawless Sabbatini leads Barclays first round

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2007

HARRISON, United States (AFP) — South Africa's Rory Sabbatini carded eight birdies without a bogey Thursday to claim the first-round lead with a 63 at the seven million-dollar Barclays.

Sabbatini surged heading into the turn, posting four birdies in a six-hole stretch at the Westchester County Club's West Course.

"You know, the course, it's playing easy right now," Sabbatini said. "There's no wind out there, and you know, it's pretty much shooting darts at the flags. The greens are receptive and where you land the drives, that's where the ball is going to hit.

"So in a sense it's making it play pretty easy. A little longer, but still pretty easy."

South Korean K.J. Choi also made eight birdies, including four on the final five holes, but his bogey at...