Harris English makes it look easy in taking four-way share of lead in Northern Trust

Harris English made the difficult look easy Thursday in The Northern Trust, just like he has done all year to even reach this position in the PGA Tour's postseason.

Facing the tough stretch on the back nine of the TPC Boston to start his round, English hit 5-iron on the 11th and 12th holes, both of them to about 8 feet for birdies. He followed with two long birdie putts to run his streak to four, and finished at 7-under 64.

By the end of the opening round, English shared the lead with Kevin Streelman, Cameron Davis and Russell Henley, who finished with a tap-in eagle.

Good starts were important to so many in the FedEx Cup playoffs, which are as much about advancing as avoiding elimination. The top 70 from the 122-man field (three players have withdrawn) move on to next week for another $9.5 million event. The goal then is to reach the top 30 for the Tour Championship and its $15 million prize to the winner.

Tiger Woods opened with a 68 with five birdies over his last 10 holes.

• Shane Bertsch shot his second straight 7-under 64 to take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Charles Schwab Series at Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge, his second event on the PGA Tour Champions.

Tied for the first-round lead with Tom Lehman, Bertsch had nine birdies and two bogeys at Buffalo Ridge in the first of two 54-hole events at Big Cedar Lodge. Bernhard Langer had a 64 to move into a tie for second at 10 under with Kenny Perry (65) and Wes Short Jr. (66).Lehman had a 71 to drop into a tie for 11th at 7 under.

Colasurdo, a prize signee who was Mr. Football in South Carolina last season, was to compete for the starting position.

• East Carolina has paused football activities indefinitely after a coronavirus cluster was reported within the team as well as within a campus residence hall.

• North Carolina State says it's still "progressing with the expectation to compete" in fall sports as the school goes to online-only courses for undergraduates.

• Notre Dame announced five football players have tested positive in two rounds of coronavirus testing this week.The Fighting Irish did not practice for a second straight day.

• South Carolina has been approved by the state to permit 20,000 fans at football games this fall, about a quarter of capacity at Williams-Brice Stadium.

• South Carolina has lost one of its most anticipated offensive newcomers for the season after tailback MarShawn Lloyd tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at practice.