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SYDNEY -- Fans came to catch a glimpse of American hot shot Jordan Spieth yet they were treated to a peak at the future of Australian golf as amateur Curtis Luck took a share of the lead midway through the opening round of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.The 20-year-old west Australian shot a five-under round in the company of Spieth and Aussie veteran Geoff Ogilvy, Luck firing seven birdies and just two bogeys in an excellent start to his campaign.Spieths round could have been better, but the American was left to lament a poor flop shot on hole No. 8 and admitted he was still adjusting to putting on the Poa annua grass greens.I really like the design of this golf course, its a fun, kind of classic course to play, Spieth said.These Poa annua greens are just getting a little bit into my head, but as the week picks up and it becomes more difficult to hold greens in regulation I like where Im at.Having received a fortunate bounce on hole No. 7 that gave him a shot at eagle, a putt he lipped out and settled for birdie, Spieth then saw just how quickly Royal Sydney could also play the demon after his tee shot at the driveable No. 8 skipped through the green.But the American was more upset about the duffed flop shot that followed, that led to an untimely bogey, and promised to keep attacking the shorter par-fours for the rest of the week.I was actually very pleased with the tee shot there [on No. 8], so Ill just look at it as; I found something on four today...in my driving, Spieth said.I was much more patient into what I was working on the last few weeks and I kept through it there on No. 8 and hit it too good. If I mishit it I probably make birdie there instead.So Im not upset about that, what Im upset about is the execution of the flop shot which is normally a strength of mine around the greens.Luck, meanwhile, showed no signs of nerves and opened his day with a birdie on No. 10.The amateur, who twice qualified for the Masters next season with wins at the US Amateur and the Asia-Pacific Amateur, looked relaxed throughout his round and hit some superb wedge shots that often saw him inside both Spieth and Ogilvy.Yeah plenty, Luck said when asked if hed had fun. Fortunately I had two great playing partners in Geoff and Jordan and they made it a lot of fun for me and obviously I played quite well.So yeah it was quite enjoyable out there today.Ogilvy finished at -2 after having several putts burn the edges on the slick Royal Sydney Greens.Lucas Herbert was the other early leader on Thursday after a blemish-free five-under 67.The highest-ranked Aussie in the field, Adam Scott, and Aaron Baddeley went out in the afternoon wave with?the breeze beginning to strengthen. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Super Bowl is beginning to seem like a distant memory for the Carolina Panthers.The brash team that celebrated 17 wins last season by posing for pictures while dabbing on the sideline suddenly doesnt have much to celebrate.The defending NFC champions are in danger of not making the postseason coming off a 17-2 season. The Panthers (1-4) turned the ball over four more times and had several costly penalties in a 17-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving the three-time defending NFC South champs three games behind the Atlanta Falcons in the division.History suggests the Panthers only have a six percent chance of making the postseason.Since the NFL went to a 12-team playoff format in 1990, only eight of 128 teams that started 1-4 have advanced to the postseason. Houston and Kansas City accomplished that feat last year.All of that doesnt seem to faze the Panthers eternally optimistic coach Ron Rivera.In spite of the fact that some people want to go ahead and give the division to somebody already with 11 games left to play, Rivera said Tuesday. We will wait and see and play them one at a time and thats the way were going to look at it. Were not going to worry about what happened last year. Its a different football team and a different season.Rivera expressed some optimism regarding the status of reigning league MVP Cam Newton, who sat out against the Buccaneers with a concussion.While Newton remains in the leagues concussion protocol, Rivera said the sixth-year quarterback had a good day of workouts on Monday.He worked out with our training staff. He ran. He threw the ball, Rivera said Tuesday. We had one of our young guys with him, and he waas running routes for him.dddddddddddd He lifted.However, Rivera stopped short of saying whether Newton would practice Wednesday or be ready for Sundays game at New Orleans. The Panthers have a bye the following week, so its conceivable they could hold him out to give him two more weeks to rest.My understanding is when they do all that its `How is he the next day? Rivera said. I havent had a chance to visit on that yet.Players had the day off Tuesday.One of the biggest issues for the Panthers this season is turnovers. Theyve committed an NFL-high 14 through five games after turning the ball over only 19 times all of last season. Derek Anderson, who filled in for Newton on Monday night, had three turnovers including a costly fourth quarter interception on a first-and-goal at the Tampa Bay 2.Its been kind of the story of our losses this year -- missed opportunities, self-inflicted wounds and obviously turnovers are big, Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said after the game.Olsen said some of the breaks the Panthers got last year are simply going the other way.What happened the year before has nothing to do with this year, Olsen said. Weve been saying that since the day after the Super Bowl. Thats just the reality of it. Its unfortunate we had to learn it by being 1-4, but thats the way this league goes. Youre not promised anything in this league. No ones going to roll over because of what youve done in the past. Youve got to earn everything and right now were not earning anything.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '