5 Number of birdies that Rickie Fowler posted in his first seven holes Thursday en route to an 8-under 64 and the first-round lead in the Shell Houston Open, the final PGA Tour event before next week’s Masters. Fowler made more birdies – 8, including seven from 10 feet or closer – at the Golf Club of Houston than in any round this season. He owns three finishes of sixth or better in six starts this season, including a victory five weeks ago at the Honda Classic, and is No. 9 in the Official World Golf Ranking. South Korean Sung Kang missed a 5-foot putt and bogeyed the par-4 18th to place one stroke behind Fowler entering today’s second round. 43 Number of career top-10 finishes on the LPGA for Karine Icher, who shot 5-under 67 Thursday at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., for the first-round lead in the ANA Inspiration before play was suspended because of wind. Icher, 38, of France, joined the LPGA in 2003 but has yet to win on the U.S. tour. She is a five-time winner on the Ladies European Tour. American Michelle Wie and South Korean Eun Jeong Seong, a 17-year-old amateur, were among four players tied at 68. 50 Percentage of respondents to a question on Morning Read’s Twitter account (@themorningread) who said that Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club should host an LPGA event.
