Jordan Spieth believes the hard work he put in after an early exit from the Players Championship is paying off after a much-improved start to the week at the AT&T Byron Nelson. The 22-year-old missed the cut at TPC Sawgrass last week in his first event since a final-round collapse at the Masters, but he has made a strong start in Texas by following an opening-round 64 with a five-under 65 on Friday.Spieth mixed six birdies with a solitary bogey at TPC Four Seasons, a course he has notoriously struggled at over the years, giving him the early clubhouse second-round lead with Brooks Koepka. Jordan Spieth posted six birdies during his round The world No 2 has not finished inside the top-25 in the event since a tie for 16th as an amateur in 2010, but feels the extra work put in with coach Cameron Mccormick this week has brought a marked improvement. Its very gratifying, Spieth told the PGA Tours featured group coverage. I have complete trust in Camerons (Mccormick) eye and he has the trust that Im going to put in the work to get to a point where were successful.Sometimes thats not the next week but fortunately, this week it is. Most of our work has been on the greens, and that has shown today. Spieth carded four birdies in a five-hole stretch I feel a little loose with my iron play and even some of my wedges, and the proximity to the hole from a lot of the positions Ive been playing hasnt been where I want it.Weve made up for it with the putter thus far and if we can tone that down a little bit and keep the putter hot, well be in good shape.After missing a 10-footer for birdie at the 11th, Spieth picked up a shot from a similar distance at the next but gave it straight back with a three-putt bogey at the short 13th. Spieths last victory came in Januarys Hyundai Tournament of Champions The world No 2 drained a 20-footer at the 14th and made a move up the leaderboard with a hat-trick of gains from the 16th to reach the turn in 31.A run of close-range pars came to an end with a two-putt birdie at the par-five seventh, before Spieth closed a bogey-free second nine and set the clubhouse target by holing from 10 feet to save par at the ninth. The 13th Ive three-putted twice in a row now and then I ended up in a really tough spot on 14, Spieth added. Ive been on that spot every year and made bogeys, made doubles and made pars, but finally made a birdie out of that.It was a really nice break to get some momentum for sure.Watch the AT&T Byron Nelson throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf Also See: AT&T Byron Nelson leaders Garcia makes bright start First round highlights Golf live on Sky Sports LeBron James Shoes Deals . -- Phil Hughes ended a personal losing streak that dated to last July, pitching into the seventh inning Sunday and helping the Twins top the Kansas City Royals 8-3 to avoid a three-game sweep. LeBron James Shoes Free Shipping .A. Dickey, even though he was coming off a Cy Young Award in 2012. Many felt the Jays would regret giving up righthanded pitcher prospect Noah Syndergaard and catcher Travis DArnaud over the long haul. https://www.cheapshoeslebronjames.com/ . -- Nelson Cruz has only two hits in 15 at-bats against the Kansas City Royals this season. LeBron James Shoes From China .S. womens soccer team to a 2-0 win over China in Colorado in the afternoon. LeBron James Shoes Outlet .com) - Maria Sharapova reached her 10th career grand slam final after beating Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets at the Australian Open on Thursday.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Bengals co-ordinators spent Monday taking phone calls from other teams arranging interviews for head coaching jobs. Coach Marvin Lewis isnt going anywhere, not even with that 0-5 playoff record. And Andy Dalton apparently is entrenched, too. He was reassured on Monday that hes still the franchise quarterback. The Bengals tried to move on Monday from one of the most painful moments in franchise history, a 27-10 loss at home to San Diego that stamped them as one of the NFLs worst playoff teams of all time. "Well be fine," Lewis said. "Today sucks. Well be better. Well be all right." When it comes to the playoffs, it cant get much worse. The Bengals havent won a playoff game since the 1990 season, a 23-year streak of futility thats tied for sixth-longest in NFL history. Theyve lost their opening playoff game three straight seasons, tying the NFL record. And Lewis is fast rising up the charts for post-season coaching defeats. Hes 0-5 in 11 years as the Bengals head coach. Only Jim Mora started his career with more consecutive playoff losses (6). The five straight playoff losses are tied for second-most overall -- Marty Schottenheimer, Jim Mora and Steve Owen lost six each. And the five straight playoff losses are the second-most with one team, trailing only the Giants Owen, who lost six playoff games in an 11-year span from 1939-1950. Lewis has a year left on his contract and is safe in Cincinnati, where owner Mike Brown is reluctant to change. Lewis bristled on Monday when asked if hes in a unique situation that way. "I dont think the situation is unique at all," Lewis said. "I think if the other places were in the situation -- they lost a playoff game after winning the division -- their head coach would be in place. Dont you?" The big off-season question is whether theyre still fully committed to Dalton, who has been horrid in three playoff losses. Dalton turned the ball over three times in the second half on Sunday, and has one touchdown pass and six interceptions in his three post-season games. Offensive co-ordinator Jay Gruden said on Monday that Dalton shouldnt be singled out for blame, noting the entire offence struggled. He acknowledged that Dalton played poorly in the second half, when Cincinnaati was outscored 20-0.dddddddddddd "If there is one negative, I think that Andy probably pressed a little too much and tried to do too many things out of pocket which is not what his strength is," Gruden said. Dalton is entering the final year on his deal, so the Bengals have to decide whether to offer a long-term extension or consider other options. Lewis reassured him on Monday that his confidence in him hasnt wavered. "I think everybody knows what Ive been able to do here, what weve been able to do since Ive been here as a team," Dalton said. "And so I think Ive got a lot of confidence in the stuff Marvin has been telling me. I expect to be here for a long time. Im hoping that is the case." Theres a chance both co-ordinators could move on. Gruden said the Vikings, Titans and Redskins have contacted him about interviews later in the week. Defensive co-ordinator Mike Zimmer expects to have three interviews later in the week, though he wouldnt identify the teams. Both have interviewed for head coaching jobs in the past. The defence finished the season ranked No. 3 and the offence was No. 10. "Ive been in the league now three years as a co-ordinator and obviously with my brother (Jon) for a lot of years," Gruden said. "If that challenge were to come about, I think Id be ready. But Im happy staying here too." Zimmer has been Cincinnatis defensive co-ordinator for six seasons. Hes never been a head coach. "You never know what happens," he said. "Who calls? Whos really interested? Whos not? Theres so many different variables." Players tossed their gear in bags and put their old cleats in donation boxes in the locker room on Monday, knowing theyre in for another year of shouldering the label of the team that cant win the big one. When asked whether hell look back on the 11-win, AFC North championship season as a partial success or as a total disappointment, linebacker Vontaze Burfict winced. "Its a disappointment," he said. ---- NOTES: The Bengals signed WR Cobi Hamilton, C T.J. Johnson, DE David King, CB Onterio McCalebb, LB Bruce Taylor and C Scott Wedige to futures contracts. All were on the practice squad and will count on the active list following the Super Bowl. ' ' '