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Tiger Woods - Source: Reuters -
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Tiger Woods gave Australian golf fans a taste of what they have
been missing over the last decade by shooting a six-under-par 66
for a share of the first round lead at the Australian Masters on
Thursday.
Woods, playing in Australia for the first time in 11 years,
thrilled galleries packed six-deep on each hole, notching seven
birdies for a one-stroke lead with South Africa's Branden Grace and
Australian James Nitties.
"I felt pretty good today, I hit the ball pretty decent. I didn't
get my irons that close but took advantage of the par fives," the
world number one told reporters at the co-sanctioned A$1.5 million
tournament.
"I bogeyed the last hole and missed two shots for birdie but other
than that it was a pretty good day."
Taking advantage of benign morning conditions, the 14-times major
champion attacked Kingston Heath's greens and had little trouble
reaching on the course's longer holes. He picked up four birdies in
five holes coming in to the clubhouse.
"One, the wind wasn't really blowing. Two, the greens were soft. So
we can be pretty aggressive and hit it into the greens," said
Woods, whose only lapse was a bogey on his last hole to surrender
the outright lead.
Chasing his first Australian title on his fourth visit Down Under,
Woods will face a tougher task on Friday with an afternoon tee-off
likely to bring gusting winds and soaring temperatures at one of
Australia's most treacherous courses.
'Really Stupid'
South African Grace is playing to keep his European Tour card and
the 21-year-old threatened to upstage Woods by sinking six birdies
in eight holes in a scintillating mid-round burst.
However, he was left to rue a bogey on the 17th after edging into a
one-stroke lead over Woods.
"I was seven under with two to go and had a bogey on 17, which in
the end was just really stupid ... but you know I'm really happy. I
am up there and hopefully can keep playing that way for the next
three rounds," Grace said.
After a patient run of four pars, Australian Nitties sparked his
round to life with an eagle on the par five 14th, his fifth hole,
and adding four birdies on his way to a bogey-free round.
The 27-year-old, who broke into the U.S. Tour this year, joined
Woods and Grace a stroke above Australians Cameron Percy and Doug
Holloway, who shot matching 67s.
Adam Scott, battling to return to the top 10 after a horror year on
the US PGA Tour, is five strokes off the pace after shooting a
one-under 71.
Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy is a further stroke behind
after a double bogey on his last hole, the par-four ninth, dropped
him to an even par 72.
Halloway leads Kiwis
New Zealand golfer Doug Holloway was in exalted company as he
sat one shot off the lead after the opening round.
Holloway shot an excellent five-under 67 at the Kingston Heath
course, leaving him one stroke behind the leading trio -- including
Woods.
The leaders all played in the easier morning conditions, with
Holloway happy to perform in relative anonimity while Woods was
followed all day by a mass of spectators.
Also sharing the lead on six-under are Australian James Nitties and
South African Branden Grace.
Holloway, who was a late qualifier for the tournament, is level
with Australian Cameron Percy while three golfers sit a further
shot back in a tie for sixth.
Fifteen of the 143 golfers are New Zealanders, with three prominent
names tied for 23rd on one-under. They are Mahal Pearce, Michael
Long and Tim Wilkinson, the latter making his return to golf
after injury ended his US PGA Tour season early several months
ago.
Another stroke back on 72 are Josh Geary and Gareth Paddison while
Josh Carmichael, Hamish Robertson and Mark Purser are
one-over.
The other New Zealanders are Michael Campbell (74), Michael Hendry
(75), Brad Shilton and Brenden Stuart (both 76), Jared Pender (82)
and Mathew Holten (83).
First round leaders click here
