Pendrith soaks in a peaceful Bermuda with 61 for the lead

SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda (AP) — Taylor Pendrith of Canada got married two weeks ago and wasn't sure what to expect out of his game. Once the weather cooperated, it proved to be better than ever Friday in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Pendrith ran off five straight birdies at the turn and flirted with a sub-60 round until settling for two closing pars and a 10-under 61 at Port Royal, giving him a one-shot lead over Patrick Rodgers going into the weekend.

Pendrith was stuck on the wrong side of the draw for an opening round in rain squalls and 35 mph gusts that allowed only six players from Thursday morning to break par. He more than made up for it in ideal weather in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

“Felt a lot easier out there than yesterday,” Pendrith said. “Yesterday was some of the worst weather I've ever played in, just almost like surviving out there. Didn't really matter how you hit it, you just have to hit shots. Today was a completely different story.”

In the calm and beauty of Port Royal, Pendrith had nine birdies and on eagle to offset his lone bogey on the 13th hole to move past Rodgers into the lead at 11-under 131.

Rodgers, who had to return to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals to get back his PGA Tour card , had the good end of the draw and took advantage. He followed a 68 in breezy conditions with a 64, chipping in for eagle toward the end of his round for a 64.

Vincent Whaley (67) was two shots behind, followed by Danny Lee (67) and David Skinns, the 39-year-old rookie from England who had another 67.

Patrick Reed, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 24, was six shots behind.

Pendrith is in his rookie season on the PGA Tour and has made the cut in his three tournaments he played. And then he took a week off to get married, taking a brief...