Thorpe, Romero share lead at Charles Schwab Cup Championship

2007-10-25

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SONOMA, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) -- Jim Thorpe barely earned the chance to defend his title at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship and wasted no time making the most of it.

The defending champion at this season-ending $2.5 million event, Thorpe has a share of the lead after Thursday's first round along with Eduardo Romero of Argentina.

The leaders are at 8-under-par 64 and are two shots clear of England's Mark James.

Thorpe managed to hold off Tom Jenkins last week at the AT&T Championship for the 30th spot on the money list - and final spot in this week's field. Also the winner here in 2003, Thorpe is in search of his first victory of the season.

He's excited to have the chance to get it this week.

"I'm happy to be here," Thorpe said. "Getting here was harder that trying to win a golf tournament, because you know you can't make a mistake. You can control what you're doing, but you can't control what the other guy is doing and the last couple of weeks, Tom Jenkins was running me down there."

But now the field at Sonoma Golf Club is chasing Thorpe after a sizzling performance on the back nine.

Thorpe was 2-under at the turn and got going coming in. He had consecutive birdies at Nos. 10 and 11 and added another pair at 13 and 14. Thorpe had his lone bogey at 15 but responded with three consecutive birdies to close his round.

"It was a good ball-striking day," Thorpe said. "It's good to have the opportunity to get back here and play a golf course that seems to fit my eye well. I've had a lot of success here."

Romero had success Thursday as well with nine birdies and one bogey to grab a share of the lead. Romero needed just 23 putts and had a run of five straight birdies on the back nine.

"I played fantastic," Romero said. "I'm happy with my game and it was a fantastic round."

Loren Roberts and Jay Haas, who are the favorites to win the Charles Schwab Cup and a $1 million annuity, both have some catching up to do.

The 52-year-old Roberts, who owns a 165-point lead Haas, signed for a 1-under 71.

Haas, who won the cup last season, is tied for fifth at 4-under 48.