Windy start at Miami to WGC-CA Championship

Casey content to be only two behind Allenby


FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
England's in-form Paul Casey was thrilled to finish the opening round of the WGC-CA Championship only two shots off the lead in windy Miami - after thinking Robert Allenby must have been playing somewhere else.
Australian Allenby defied the conditions with an eagle and six birdies to stand eight under par after 12 holes, but then bogeyed the last four at the Doral Resort & Country Club.
That handed top spot to South African Charl Schwartzel with his five under par 67 - the only bogey-free round of the day - while Casey had four successive birdies late in the day before dropping a shot at the last to be in a tie for fifth spot.
=================================
More News
Guessing game continues over Woods' return
Westwood and Casey target rankings rise
Dyson delights in big year
Noh caps dream week with Open berth
=================================
"I thought Robert was playing a different course," said the world number six, who has a chance this week to become Tiger Woods' closest challenger on the rankings for the first time.
"That was very impressive stuff - there are a lot of tough holes here - and I'm very happy with my 69."
Far from satisfied, though, was Rory McIlroy as he handed in a bitterly disappointing 76 and then sentenced himself to some hard labour on the practice range.
McIlroy had only a few of the 68-strong field behind him after no fewer than six bogeys and so many shots into bunkers that he could not remember the final tally.
"I'm just struggling," said the world number nine, outscored by five by playing partner and defending champion Phil Mickelson.
"I'm not playing well and just can't keep things going. I've been struggling since the weekend in Dubai (now over a month ago)."
ALL THE FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Doral Resort & CC, Miami, Florida
Par 72. Players from United States unless stated
67 Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)
68 Vijay Singh (Fiji), Robert Allenby (Australia), Ernie Els (South Africa)
69 Dustin Johnson, Francesco Molinari (Italy), J.B. Holmes, Soren Hansen (Denmark), John Senden (Australia), Paul Casey (England)
70 Jerry Kelly, Jim Furyk, Luke Donald (England), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Tim Clark (Rsa), Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
71 Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, Bill Haas, Sean O'Hair, Yuta Ikeda (Japan), Matt Kuchar, Henrik Stenson (Sweden)
72 Lucas Glover, David Toms, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain), Simon Dyson (England), Liang Wen Chong (China), Alvaro Quiros (Spain), Hunter Mahan, Alistair Presnell (Australia), Ian Poulter (England), Camilo Villegas (Colombia), Edoardo Molinari (Italy)
73 Nick Watney, Steve Stricker, Ross Fisher (England), Jason Dufner, Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Kenny Perry, Mike Weir (Can), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Y.E. Yang (South Korea)
74 Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Graeme McDowell (N Ireland), Adam Scott (Australia), Brian Gay, Sergio Garcia (Spain), Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Heath Slocum, Peter Hanson (Sweden), Ben Crane, Lee Westwood (England)
75 Steve Marino, Michael Sim (Aus), Stewart Cink
76 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland), Zach Johnson, Retief Goosen (South Africa), Anders Hansen (Denmark), Scott Verplank, Ross McGowan (England)
78 Robert Karlsson (Sweden), Kevin Na, Oliver Wilson (England), Marc Leishman (Australia)
79 Ryan Palmer