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August 1, 2009

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Lowery sizzles, Woods fizzles

Source: Agencies | August 1, 2009, Saturday | Print Edition

AMERICAN Steve Lowery turned a sizzling last nine into a 1-shot first-round lead at the Buick Open in Michigan on Thursday, while Tiger Woods stumbled on one of his favorite layouts.

Taking advantage of an early start and ideal conditions at the sun-kissed Warwick Hills, Lowery birdied seven of his last nine holes on way to 9-under 63 while Woods struggled with his putting to sit eight shots off the pace after a 1-under 71.

"It was just terrible," Woods told reporters.

Playing the back nine first, Lowery got his day off to a stuttering birdie-bogey start but was nearly perfect after the turn, reeling off four straight birdies from the first.

The 48-year-old let his foot off the gas with pars at five and six but closed with three more birdies to tie the course nine hole record of 7-under 29 and grab a one shot lead over Australian John Senden.

South Korea's Y.E Yang, Australia's James Nitties and Americans Vaughn Taylor and Brian Vranesh all lurk one shot further back returning 7-under 65s.

"It hasn't been a great year for me but hopefully I can turn it around," Lowery, who is without a top 20 finish this season, told reporters.

"The last nine holes I made all my putts, some were tap ins and some were pretty good. 9-under is a good start but ... you got to get it going for the rest of the three days."

Third victory

The 48-year-old Lowery hasn't finished better than 24th this year. He won at Pebble Beach last year, earning a third victory on the tour and his first since 2000.

Back in action for the first time since the British Open where he missed the cut in a major championship for only the second time as a professional, Woods could not find his rhythm on a course he rates among his favorites.

In eight previous visits the world No. 1 was a combined 137-under par, shares the course record of 61 with Billy Mayfair and has never finished worse than 11th winning the title twice.

"It was probably one of the worst putting days I've ever had," lamented Woods, who finished the round tied for 95th. I know I've got to play well to make the cut, I've got to play well to get myself back into contention.

"Guys are only going to continue to go low, this is the way the golf course is playing it's going to be 20-plus to win the tournament."

Jim Furyk, the 2003 Buick champion, battled to a 3-under 69 to join a large group that includes David Duval and Australian Nathan Green, who arrived at Warwick Hills fresh from his first career PGA Tour win at the Canadian Open on Monday.

Crowd favorite John Daly had the galleries cheering with a birdie at the first but quickly slipped down the leaderboard finishing with a 4-over 76.
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