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SOUTHPORT, England: Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, Rocco Mediate of the
United States and Robert Allenby of Australia all took full
advantage of improving weather conditions later in the day to share
the first round lead in the British Open on Thursday.
They were among those fortunate enough to set
out in the afternoon groupings missing the full force of the storm
which wreaked havoc during the morning’s play. All three ducked
under par with birdies in the final two holes.
They were the only three players under par by
the end of the day over a tough Royal Birkdale course that at times
early on was all but unplayable under lashing rain and a cold,
gusting wind.
One stroke back was Australian veteran champion
Greg Norman, who rolled back the years with a 70, level with young
compatriot Adam Scott and Bart Bryant of the United States.
South Africa’s Retief Goosen and Canada’s
Mike Weir, who went out in the worst of the weather earlier in the
day deserved credit for grinding out a pair of hard-earned 71s.
They were joined in the afternoon and evening by
former US Open champion Jim Furyk, Frenchman Gregory Havret, Swedes
Fredrik Jacobsen and Peter Hanson and English pair Simon Wakefield
and Anthony Wall.
-- AFP
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