Golf : Dahmen and Straka lead after Valspar Championship first round

The PGA Tour event that doesn't have Tiger Woods this year instead has the Leaping Cougar. That's a childhood nickname for Joel Dahmen, who took advantage of gentle conditions on a tough golf course for a 5-under 66 to share the early lead with Sepp Straka in the Valspar Championship. It was all part of an action-filled morning at Innisbrook, where Russell Knox wiped out a double bogey on No. 9 by hitting 3-wood into the cup from 274 yards for an albatross on the par-5 11, and riding that to a 29 on the back nine. He was one shot behind at 67. Paul Casey, the defending champion, finished his Thursday 1-under-par, good enough for 30th place.