|
AUGUSTA, Georgia: Tiger Woods opened his bid for a Grand Slam sweep
with a steady par-72 in the first round of the Masters Thursday, as
Justin Rose underlined his credentials as a potential winner.
The 27-year-old Englishman produced a
scintillating opening round of 68, moving from two-over after five
to four-under after 13 including four birdies in a row from the
sixth.
That gave him a share of the first-round lead
alongside comeback man Trevor Immelman of South Africa.
They were one stroke clear of Americans Brian
Bateman and Brandt Snedecker and in-form Englishman Lee Westwood,
and two ahead of a quintet consisting of Ian Poulter, Jim Furyk,
Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, Stephen Ames of Canada and defending
champion Zach Johnson—who rekindled his top form on returning to
the scene of his upset win of last year.
Shot of the day went to the outspoken and at
times outrageous Englishman Poulter who fired the 11th ace to be
recorded at the 170-yard par-three with a eight-iron en route to his
70.
It was the first hole-in-one at the Masters in
three years since Immelman aced the same 16th.
As ever, though, the focus of attention on a
sunny, warm opening day was on Woods, who is on record as saying he
believes he can become the first man to complete the Grand Slam of
all four majors—a feat previously thought to be nigh on
impossible.
Once again, there were no early fireworks from
the four-time winner of the Green Jacket who curiously had failed to
break 70 in his 13 previous first rounds at Augusta.
Twelve straight pars were followed by
morale-sapping bogeys at the par-five 13th, where he fluffed a chip
from the back of the green, and at 14, where he pulled his drive
into trees and could only hack out onto the fairway.
But just when it looked like he was in some
trouble, Woods once again produced the goods with a magical chip in
for eagle at the 15th.
He parred his way in from there for a level 72
and it is now six years since be bettered par on Masters opening
day.
Seeking a 14th major title, four short of Jack
Nicklaus’ record 18 haul, Woods entered the tournament with the
lowest betting odds ever for a player at the outset of a major being
quoted at just above evens to win.
“I just didn’t get anything going my way
today,” he said. “At 13, I hit a sweet approach shot that I
thought was perfect, then I ended up with the worst place you could
have put it. At 15, it was an easy little chip uphill—just had to
make sure it carried enough.
“This is playing more like a US Open than a
Masters. There was only one real roar I heard all day and that was
for Poulter’s ace.”
-- AFP
|
