MADISON, Wis. (AP) " Gene Sauers rebounded from a bulging disk to share the first-round lead with Estaban Toledo on Friday in the PGA Tour Champions' inaugural American Family Insurance Championship.
The 53-year-old Sauers matched Toledo with a 9-under 63 in front of large galleries at University Ridge. Sauers withdrew from the Constellation Senior Players Championship two weeks ago in Pennsylvania because of the disk problem.
"I had to go home, see my doctor, and I didn't play for like seven, eight days," Sauers said. "Of course, we had the week off prior, which was great, which helped me. And saw my teacher at home, he got me kind of straightened out. Coming here this week I had a lot of good thoughts coming into this week. ... Hopefully, I can make it the next few more days."
Sauers closed his bogey-free round with a birdie on the par-5 ninth.
"It's a great golf course," Sauers said. "The front side is kind of wide open and then the back nine is tree-lined, so it's a good mixture. The golf course is in great shape. The greens are perfect. What more can you ask for? You know, shooting 9 under is pretty good out here on this track. It's not a real easy golf course. You've got to just concentrate on fairways and greens and give yourself opportunities."