LEE WESTWOOD (70) BEST OF BRITS IN HONDA CLASSIC WINDS
Lee Westwood shot a par-matching 70 in a gale-swept first round of the Honda Classic at the PGA National's Champion Course (7,158yd) at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida today.
He was joint ninth at the end of the day, three shots behind US pacemaker Spencer Levin who had only one bogey, at the short fifth and four birdies, at the long third and three par-4 holes around the turn , the ninth, 11th and 12th.
Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Edoardo Molinari and Graeme McDowell all shot three-over-par 73s.
Ian Poulter, beaten in the first round of the defence of his Accenture match-play crown in the Arizona desert last week, did not fare much better. He had a 74, but even that was one better than Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.
Ross Fisher struggled to a 76 and Brian Davis had a 78.
First prize is $1,008,000.
LEADERBOARD
Par 70
67 Spencer Levin (US).
68 Stuart Appleby (Australia), Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), Kyle Stanley (US), Greg Chalmers (Australia), Y E Yang (S Korea).
69 Jeff Overton (US), Matt Kuchar (US).
Selected scores:
70 Lee Westwood (England), Alex Cejka (Germany) (T9).
73 Luke Donald (England), Rory McIlroy (N Ireland), Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) (T45).
74 Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Ian Poulter (England).
75 Louis Oosthuizen (S Afica), Ernie Els (S Africa).
76 Ross Fisher (England).
78 Brian Davis (England).
CHECK OUT ALL THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS ON US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
HONDA CLASSIC SCORES SOAR IN RAGING WIND
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
A birdie at the last saw Lee Westwood end as he started. At level par he was one of the better ones. On a day when the wind raged at the PGA Championship Course, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the Honda Classic was more an exercise in wrestling with bears than golf.
South Korean rookie Sunghoon Kang was 13 over after 14 holes. His final four holes, covered in one over par, were a comparative triumph. Defending champion Camilo Villegas carded a nine-over 79. Adam Scott twice put the ball in water at the 15th en route to an eight. Carnage.
Accenture Match Play champion Luke Donald took a 7 at the 10th, his second, to go three over. At that point he was four adrift of playing partner Rory McIlroy, who birdied the first. It says much about his attitude and balanced approach that when they walked off the course he was still three over, the same as McIlroy.
The Ulsterman found himself at the centre of another Tiger Woods brouhaha following a magazine article presented under his byline in which he repeated recent criticisms of the fallen idol. The publication, Sports Illustrated trades on its impeccable editorial standards and anti-spin stance, which added ballast to his comments.
McIlroy claimed that he did not authorise the use of his byline, and that the opinions offered were in answer to interview questions rather than volunteered.
For the record McIlroy wants it known that in his opinion Woods is the best that has ever played the game and, though not the player he was, McIlroy is not discounting the possibility that he might again reach great heights.
McIlroy launched his defence on Twitter. “Hate that the media thinks I’m taking jabs at Tiger all the time. Best that’s ever lived. Ever. Just not playing his best at the minute. If he plays his best we’re all screwed. Hard to dodge the Tiger questions when you get 10 every interview you do.”
American Spencer Levin was the early clubhouse leader after carding a three-under 67. Westwood, who was tied for ninth at the close of the day, needs a top-three finish to reclaim the world No 1 ranking surrendered to Martin Kaymer last week.
“A 70 today feels like a good score. It was very windy out there and played tough,” Westwood said.
His playing partners and management stablemates, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen, would agree. Both finished at five over par.
He was joint ninth at the end of the day, three shots behind US pacemaker Spencer Levin who had only one bogey, at the short fifth and four birdies, at the long third and three par-4 holes around the turn , the ninth, 11th and 12th.
Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Edoardo Molinari and Graeme McDowell all shot three-over-par 73s.
Ian Poulter, beaten in the first round of the defence of his Accenture match-play crown in the Arizona desert last week, did not fare much better. He had a 74, but even that was one better than Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.
Ross Fisher struggled to a 76 and Brian Davis had a 78.
First prize is $1,008,000.
LEADERBOARD
Par 70
67 Spencer Levin (US).
68 Stuart Appleby (Australia), Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), Kyle Stanley (US), Greg Chalmers (Australia), Y E Yang (S Korea).
69 Jeff Overton (US), Matt Kuchar (US).
Selected scores:
70 Lee Westwood (England), Alex Cejka (Germany) (T9).
73 Luke Donald (England), Rory McIlroy (N Ireland), Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) (T45).
74 Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Ian Poulter (England).
75 Louis Oosthuizen (S Afica), Ernie Els (S Africa).
76 Ross Fisher (England).
78 Brian Davis (England).
CHECK OUT ALL THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS ON US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
HONDA CLASSIC SCORES SOAR IN RAGING WIND
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
A birdie at the last saw Lee Westwood end as he started. At level par he was one of the better ones. On a day when the wind raged at the PGA Championship Course, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the Honda Classic was more an exercise in wrestling with bears than golf.
South Korean rookie Sunghoon Kang was 13 over after 14 holes. His final four holes, covered in one over par, were a comparative triumph. Defending champion Camilo Villegas carded a nine-over 79. Adam Scott twice put the ball in water at the 15th en route to an eight. Carnage.
Accenture Match Play champion Luke Donald took a 7 at the 10th, his second, to go three over. At that point he was four adrift of playing partner Rory McIlroy, who birdied the first. It says much about his attitude and balanced approach that when they walked off the course he was still three over, the same as McIlroy.
The Ulsterman found himself at the centre of another Tiger Woods brouhaha following a magazine article presented under his byline in which he repeated recent criticisms of the fallen idol. The publication, Sports Illustrated trades on its impeccable editorial standards and anti-spin stance, which added ballast to his comments.
McIlroy claimed that he did not authorise the use of his byline, and that the opinions offered were in answer to interview questions rather than volunteered.
For the record McIlroy wants it known that in his opinion Woods is the best that has ever played the game and, though not the player he was, McIlroy is not discounting the possibility that he might again reach great heights.
McIlroy launched his defence on Twitter. “Hate that the media thinks I’m taking jabs at Tiger all the time. Best that’s ever lived. Ever. Just not playing his best at the minute. If he plays his best we’re all screwed. Hard to dodge the Tiger questions when you get 10 every interview you do.”
American Spencer Levin was the early clubhouse leader after carding a three-under 67. Westwood, who was tied for ninth at the close of the day, needs a top-three finish to reclaim the world No 1 ranking surrendered to Martin Kaymer last week.
“A 70 today feels like a good score. It was very windy out there and played tough,” Westwood said.
His playing partners and management stablemates, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen, would agree. Both finished at five over par.
Labels: US PGA TOUR, US PRO TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Thursday, March 03, 2011
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