MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP
ASSOCIATED PRESS
K.J. Choi was first among the leaders to post a 4-under 69 yesterday at the Mercedes-Benz. Four golfers matched his score.
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Singh, 4 others share first-day lead
The five frontrunners and others near the top of the leaderboard find a way to beat the wind
KAPALUA, Maui » If you don't make the wind your friend when playing the Plantation Course, then it is an enemy to be feared.
A dozen of the best golfers in the world managed to keep the blustery breezes at bay during yesterday's opening round of the $5.5 million Mercedes-Benz Championship, landing them in red figures through their first 18 holes.
Leading the way were Vijay Singh, K.J. Choi, Stephen Ames, Brett Wetterich and Will MacKenzie as they began 2007 with 4-under 69s to share the first-round lead of this winners-only event. Davis Love III was a shot back at 3-under 70, with another half-dozen golfers managing to break par as well.
Jim Furyk was among four golfers who began the year at 2-under 71, with Luke Donald also figuring in the mix with a 1-under 72. Three-time defending champion Stuart Appleby was among seven golfers to finish at even-par 73. During his three-year win streak, his best opening score was a 66 in 2004.
Singh would have to be the early favorite to finally win his first Mercedes title. He has come close several times, with six top-five finishes since this event moved here in 1999, including losing to Appleby in a one-hole playoff last year.
"I came prepared here," the former world No. 1 golfer said. "I don't like coming into a golf tournament trying to find my game. But this wind was something else. I just went out there with a very positive vibe and said I've got to hit solid shots and that was my objective today. Just go out there and pick a spot and hit it, and whatever the results it's going to be, it's going to be."
Singh opened quickly with birdies on the first two holes. He had six birdies for the day with two bogeys at the par-4 seventh and 13th holes. After birdieing the par-5 15th, Singh closed with three pars. He hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation and needed only 32 putts to fashion his 4-under round.
"I was just thinking that players like Ben Curtis (who is in last with an 81) said he only played three rounds of golf since the Tour Championship," Singh said. "And I said, 'Wow, it showed today,' you know. Not that he played badly, but he was still rusty. I've always come prepared to a golf tournament. You've got to do that."
That may be, but Ames, who also opened with a 69, has been in Hawaii since Christmas with his family and has spent more time relaxing than playing golf. Since withdrawing from the Canadian Open in September, he's barely touched his clubs.
"I haven't played a full round of golf from August until November, so I've had quite a bit of time off," Ames said. "I played the World Cup in Barbados, and then one round prior to starting this round."
So you're sharp, a reporter asked.
"Oh yeah, real sharp," Ames said. "Sharp maybe this way (making a drinking motion), lots of mai tais. The last time we were here, I basically felt the same way I have now. Golf kind of gets in the way.
"It's a wonderful vacation, my whole family is here. We spent Christmas here. We've obviously enjoyed it, so much so, that my wife has taken the kids out of school next week and we're going to the Sony."
Wetterich was equally surprised he played so well, especially in these conditions. The wind was whipping around when Choi began the day with a par at the first hole and it was still howling as Appleby concluded the day with a par at the friendly 18th.
"I wasn't expecting very much out of myself today," Wetterich said. "I took a month off because I wanted to. My shoulder was hurting me a little bit, so I didn't get to do as much as I would have liked to. I've got to warm up slowly, but once I get going, I'm fine."
Choi had a fine round as well. He shot a 62 here in 2003 en route to finishing in a tie for second to Ernie Els. Like Singh, he enjoys playing this course and could be a force to be reckoned with come Sunday.
"I always like to remember the 62," Choi said of his 11-under round. "However, conditions then were a bit more fair, less wind. I keep that in mind, in my thoughts, and try my best every time playing the rounds here.
"I live in Texas, there's a lot of wind in Texas. More than familiarity; I think it's how the body adjusts when you're playing and practicing against the wind. With me, it's just always how I feel when I'm playing in windy conditions."
Love also took note of the wind. It's the first time he's played here in three years, but he is still very familiar with the course. His 3-under round puts him right in the middle of things. His best finish since the tournament moved here was eighth in 1999. He tied for 16th in 2002 and ninth in 2004.
"You know, we're used to it blowing here," Love said. "But I don't think if we were here on vacation we would have played today. I would have stayed down there by the pool. Really, there is enough room to play when it blows this hard. There are a lot of routes around the golf course that you can survive.
"If you can putt well and don't make any big mistakes, you can play well. If you make a lot of mistakes and you don't putt well, these kind of conditions will make you shoot a high score. This is a nice place to come and a great place to play."
Mercedes Championship
At Kapalua, Hawaii
Purse: $5.5 million
First round, par-73
K.J. Choi |
33-36 |
-- |
69
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Will MacKenzie |
33-36 |
-- |
69
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Vijay Singh |
34-35 |
-- |
69
|
Brett Wetterich |
34-35 |
-- |
69
|
Stephen Ames |
35-34 |
-- |
69
|
Davis Love III |
34-36 |
-- |
70
|
Trevor Immelman |
34-37 |
-- |
71
|
Chris Couch |
36-35 |
-- |
71
|
Jim Furyk |
34-37 |
-- |
71
|
Rory Sabbatini |
38-33 |
-- |
71
|
Carl Pettersson |
37-35 |
-- |
72
|
Luke Donald |
35-37 |
-- |
72
|
Adam Scott |
36-37 |
-- |
73
|
Troy Matteson |
36-37 |
-- |
73
|
Joe Durant |
34-39 |
-- |
73
|
John Senden |
37-36 |
-- |
73
|
Arron Oberholser |
35-38 |
-- |
73
|
J.B. Holmes |
35-38 |
-- |
73
|
Stuart Appleby |
36-37 |
-- |
73
|
J.J. Henry |
37-37 |
-- |
74
|
Rod Pampling |
38-36 |
-- |
74
|
Geoff Ogilvy |
37-37 |
-- |
74
|
Corey Pavin |
34-41 |
-- |
75
|
Tim Herron |
37-38 |
-- |
75
|
Kirk Triplett |
38-37 |
-- |
75
|
David Toms |
36-39 |
-- |
75
|
Jeff Maggert |
39-37 |
-- |
76
|
John Rollins |
36-41 |
-- |
77
|
Aaron Baddeley |
37-40 |
-- |
77
|
Chad Campbell |
38-39 |
-- |
77
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Eric Axley |
39-39 |
-- |
78
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D.J. Trahan |
40-39 |
-- |
79
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Dean Wilson |
39-41 |
-- |
80
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Ben Curtis |
39-42 |
-- |
81 |