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Day of high drama at Australian Open
Source: Agencies |
November 11, 2011, Friday
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JOHN Daly stormed off mid-round, Adam Scott hits an albatross and Tiger Woods submitted a blemish-free scorecard but little-known Jarrod Lyle trumped them all to take a one-stroke lead after an eventful opening day at the Australian Open in Sydney yesterday.
Twice-major winner Daly blamed his abrupt departure on running out of balls after dumping six into a lake off the 11th tee but his excuse cut little ice with PGA Australia, who withdrew his invitation to the Australian PGA Championship.
Championship director Trevor Herden slammed Daly as "unprofessional" and said it was unlikely the 45-year-old American, who staged a similar walkout in Austria in September, would ever be invited back. "I'm extremely bitter and disappointed that he's treated this championship this way," said Herden.
Daly wrote on Twitter to explain himself, saying "when u run out of balls u run out of balls. yes, I shook my player's partners hands & signed my card w/rules official."
Later, Daly told the Associated Press said he hasn't had confidence in his game since he was injured five years ago, and that he never thought he would run out of balls during a round.
"I love the fans here in Australia. They've been great," Daly said. "I've never played well here. Try too hard and it backfired. ... But I do love the people here and this beautiful country."
Australian Lyle, who lost his card after a disappointing season on the US PGA tour, earlier prospered in the morning rain with a 7-under-par 65 to finish a shot ahead of American world No. 5 Dustin Johnson and his compatriot Nick Watney.
Watney was the only player to threaten the top of the leaderboard in difficult afternoon conditions when a changeable, gusty wind reduced players and caddies to throwing grass into the air at every tee.
Fred Couples, playing in Sydney alongside much of his team in preparation for next week's Presidents Cup, was in a group of four players sharing fourth with a 67. The 52-year-old former US Masters champion, who will be non-playing captain for the United States at Royal Melbourne, was tied on 5-under with locals Steven Jones, Greg Chalmers and James Nitties.
Woods, who started his round just after the wind started picking up, was delighted with his 4-birdie 68, which left him tied for eighth on four-under and gave him a first bogey-free round in nine months.
"I hit it really good today," said the former world No. 1, who has slumped to 58th in the world after two years of personal turmoil and injury. That was exactly how I've been hitting them at home and that's good, I was able to take it to the golf course today and I was able to hit all the shots in these conditions."
The drama came mostly in the afternoon, starting when Australian Scott delighted a packed gallery at the par-five eighth hole with only the second albatross of his career.
The world No. 8 hit his second shot with a six iron from behind a bunker some 200 meters out and it landed on the green before screwing into the hole. "It gave me a boost for sure," Scott said.
Twice-major winner Daly blamed his abrupt departure on running out of balls after dumping six into a lake off the 11th tee but his excuse cut little ice with PGA Australia, who withdrew his invitation to the Australian PGA Championship.
Championship director Trevor Herden slammed Daly as "unprofessional" and said it was unlikely the 45-year-old American, who staged a similar walkout in Austria in September, would ever be invited back. "I'm extremely bitter and disappointed that he's treated this championship this way," said Herden.
Daly wrote on Twitter to explain himself, saying "when u run out of balls u run out of balls. yes, I shook my player's partners hands & signed my card w/rules official."
Later, Daly told the Associated Press said he hasn't had confidence in his game since he was injured five years ago, and that he never thought he would run out of balls during a round.
"I love the fans here in Australia. They've been great," Daly said. "I've never played well here. Try too hard and it backfired. ... But I do love the people here and this beautiful country."
Australian Lyle, who lost his card after a disappointing season on the US PGA tour, earlier prospered in the morning rain with a 7-under-par 65 to finish a shot ahead of American world No. 5 Dustin Johnson and his compatriot Nick Watney.
Watney was the only player to threaten the top of the leaderboard in difficult afternoon conditions when a changeable, gusty wind reduced players and caddies to throwing grass into the air at every tee.
Fred Couples, playing in Sydney alongside much of his team in preparation for next week's Presidents Cup, was in a group of four players sharing fourth with a 67. The 52-year-old former US Masters champion, who will be non-playing captain for the United States at Royal Melbourne, was tied on 5-under with locals Steven Jones, Greg Chalmers and James Nitties.
Woods, who started his round just after the wind started picking up, was delighted with his 4-birdie 68, which left him tied for eighth on four-under and gave him a first bogey-free round in nine months.
"I hit it really good today," said the former world No. 1, who has slumped to 58th in the world after two years of personal turmoil and injury. That was exactly how I've been hitting them at home and that's good, I was able to take it to the golf course today and I was able to hit all the shots in these conditions."
The drama came mostly in the afternoon, starting when Australian Scott delighted a packed gallery at the par-five eighth hole with only the second albatross of his career.
The world No. 8 hit his second shot with a six iron from behind a bunker some 200 meters out and it landed on the green before screwing into the hole. "It gave me a boost for sure," Scott said.
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