PGA champ Bradley opens with a 65
Source: Agencies |
November 4, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PGA champion Keegan Bradley shot a 7-under 65 yesterday to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the HSBC Champions, the final World Golf Championship of the year.
Bo Van Pelt, coming off a big win last week in Malaysia, twice ran off three straight birdies on the course at Sheshan International in Shanghai and joined the Swedish duo of Alex Noren and Fredrik Jacobson at 67.
The group at 68 included K.J. Choi and David Toms. Defending champion Francesco Molinari was challenging the lead late in his round as a light rain began to fall, but a double bogey-bogey finish sent him to a 70.
Rory McIlroy, with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki following him inside the ropes, made two late birdies to salvage a 70.
Bradley played alongside Lee Westwood and Adam Scott, each of whom had a 69.
"Every week, I'm amazed at who I'm around," said Bradley, who secured his PGA Tour card only a year ago. "And to be in a group like that in this tournament, and to play like that on this course is very rewarding and it means a lot to me."
A win by Bradley would be his third of the year - one of them a major, another a world championship - and it might be enough to merit strong consideration as player of the year, which is decided by a vote of PGA Tour members.
England's Luke Donald is considered a favorite with two wins, the money title and the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average. Donald could not come to Shanghai because his wife is expecting their second child.
"You know, all I'm trying to do is win this golf tournament," Bradley said. "I know there's a lot on the line, and there's some awards to be won. I'm sure Luke is not very interested in this tournament. I'm sure he's sleeping. But I hope to keep playing well and those fall where they fall."
Soft course
Bradley played bogey-free on a course that was soft from relentless rain the day before, though it still had enough bite if players weren't careful. Graeme McDowell, coming off an embarrassing weekend in Spain in which he failed to break 80 on the weekend, had seven birdies in a round that was marred by a double bogey on the 17th.
Italian teen Matteo Manassero made only five pars in his round of 82. England's Tom Lewis, who won the Portugal Masters last month in his third event as a pro, opened with a 78.
Bradley moved to the top of the leaderboard with one booming tee shot after another. He opened with a birdie after a wedge to 3 feet on No. 10 and drilled a hybrid 3-iron over the water to 20 feet on the 18th for an eagle. He had three birdies and an eagle on the par 5s, and kept bogeys off his card with a nice up-and-down from the bunker on No. 7 and a two-putt from some 60 feet on his final hole.
Bo Van Pelt, coming off a big win last week in Malaysia, twice ran off three straight birdies on the course at Sheshan International in Shanghai and joined the Swedish duo of Alex Noren and Fredrik Jacobson at 67.
The group at 68 included K.J. Choi and David Toms. Defending champion Francesco Molinari was challenging the lead late in his round as a light rain began to fall, but a double bogey-bogey finish sent him to a 70.
Rory McIlroy, with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki following him inside the ropes, made two late birdies to salvage a 70.
Bradley played alongside Lee Westwood and Adam Scott, each of whom had a 69.
"Every week, I'm amazed at who I'm around," said Bradley, who secured his PGA Tour card only a year ago. "And to be in a group like that in this tournament, and to play like that on this course is very rewarding and it means a lot to me."
A win by Bradley would be his third of the year - one of them a major, another a world championship - and it might be enough to merit strong consideration as player of the year, which is decided by a vote of PGA Tour members.
England's Luke Donald is considered a favorite with two wins, the money title and the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average. Donald could not come to Shanghai because his wife is expecting their second child.
"You know, all I'm trying to do is win this golf tournament," Bradley said. "I know there's a lot on the line, and there's some awards to be won. I'm sure Luke is not very interested in this tournament. I'm sure he's sleeping. But I hope to keep playing well and those fall where they fall."
Soft course
Bradley played bogey-free on a course that was soft from relentless rain the day before, though it still had enough bite if players weren't careful. Graeme McDowell, coming off an embarrassing weekend in Spain in which he failed to break 80 on the weekend, had seven birdies in a round that was marred by a double bogey on the 17th.
Italian teen Matteo Manassero made only five pars in his round of 82. England's Tom Lewis, who won the Portugal Masters last month in his third event as a pro, opened with a 78.
Bradley moved to the top of the leaderboard with one booming tee shot after another. He opened with a birdie after a wedge to 3 feet on No. 10 and drilled a hybrid 3-iron over the water to 20 feet on the 18th for an eagle. He had three birdies and an eagle on the par 5s, and kept bogeys off his card with a nice up-and-down from the bunker on No. 7 and a two-putt from some 60 feet on his final hole.
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