Watson hits stride as Woods struggles
Source: Agencies |
August 7, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WITH Tiger Woods struggling, long-hitting American Bubba Watson stole the limelight from the gameís biggest names by surging into a two-shot lead in Thursdayís opening round at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Competing in the elite World Golf Championships event for the first time, left-hander Watson birdied five of the last eight holes on a hot, humid afternoon to card a spectacular 6-under-par 64 at Firestone Country Club.
He ended his round in outrageous fashion, finding the left rough off the 18th tee before hitting a lob wedge over trees to 36 feet and coolly sinking a curling putt from just off the green for a birdie.
Woods, seeking a record eighth win at one of his favorite venues, struggled in every area of his game as he chalked up a 6-bogey 74, his worst score at Firestone in 45 rounds.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who could replace Woods as world No. 1 after this week, fired a 66 to lie two strokes off the pace with fellow American Kenny Perry, Australian Adam Scott and US Open winner Graeme McDowell of Britain.
Four more Americans ó Chad Campbell, Sean OíHair, Jeff Overton and Bo Van Pelt ó and double US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa opened with matching 67s.
Watson, who clinched his first PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship in June, had never seen the tight, tree-lined Firestone layout before this week.
ìI knew it was going to be tough but I putted really well, hit good iron shots and made it look a little bit easy,? the 31-year-old told reporters after covering the back nine in 4-under 31 and totalling only 22 putts.
ìBut weíre not done yet. Weíve still got three tough days of golf to go,?
Watson, whose main target this year was to make the US Ryder Cup team, felt he had benefited from his relaxed approach at Firestone.
ìIf itís a win this week or whatever it takes to get into the Ryder Cup, thatís my main goal,? he said. ìI learned the golf course in a couple of days... so Iím just free-wheeling it, just having fun.?
Little comfort
Woods, who had averaged a superb 67.75 in his previous 44 rounds at Firestone, took little comfort after finding only five fairways out of 14, struggling with his iron shots and totaling 32 putts.
ìJust because I like the golf course doesnít mean Iím going to play well on it,? the 14-time major winner said. ìYou still have to execute, and I didnít do that today.
ìIíve just got to hopefully tomorrow get it to even par or under par for the tournament and then hopefully put together a good weekend and see where that puts me.?
Mickelson was delighted to recover from two bogeys in his first six holes after teeing off at the par-four 10th.
ìIt was a good day in that I got off to a poor start... and then was able to turn it around and shoot 30 on my back nine to get in good position,? the left-hander said.
Mickelson would become world No. 1 for the first time with victory this week. He would also take over at the top by finishing in the top four at Firestone if Woods places outside the top 37 and Britainís Lee Westwood comes third or worse.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
