Allenby, Lee top Aussies at Bridgestone
US PGA Tour | 2009 Bridgestone Invitational | Round One | 07 Aug 2009
Robert Allenby and Danny Lee are four shots off the lead after the first round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
The duo lead the Australasian assault after carding rounds of two under 70 to sit in a six way tie for eighth place behind leader Padraig Harrington of Ireland.
Harrington, a three time Major winner shot a six under 64 first round to hold a two shot lead over Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, South African Tim Clark and American Scott Verplank with Steve Stricker, Ian Poulter and Zach Johnson a further shot back on three under.
Teeing off in the morning groups it was an up and down start for the Australian as Allenby made bogey at the first, but he quickly recovered with a birdie at the par five second. A birdie, bogey result on seven and eight had him even at the turn before he steadied to come home with an unblemished back nine that included birdies at 11 and 18.
“I’m pretty happy with the way I played considering my form hasn’t been that great of late,” said Allenby, who has had just two top ten finishes on the US Tour this season.
“Usually it’s my putting and short game that I work on, but my ball striking needed some work, so I’ve been practicing up to seven hours a day and I hit it well today. Hopefully this will be the start of things coming together.”
Despite a year below his own expectations Allenby has a good record at the Bridgestone Invitational with seven top 25 finishes from eight appearances, something he draws confidence from.
“Yeh, it is good to know that I usually play this place well and it’s a tough course. I finished tied second here in 02 and have had three top ten finishes here before but you know, you just have to take this game as it comes and while I’ve had success here before I just have to hope I can go out and continue this form for another three days.”
It was a confident start for 19 year old Lee who is the youngest player ever to have contested a World Golf Championship event. The Korean born Kiwi won his place in the field via his victory at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth in February and headed out in the afternoon groups starting at the tenth.
A nervous bogey on his first hole was quickly rectified with birdies at the 11th, 12th and 14th which left him two under after five but a bogey on 16 took him to one under after nine. He picked up two more on the home stretch and with one hole to play was three under par.
A wayward tee shot resulted in a bogey at the last but it was a confident, solid start for the youngster who was happy with the way he handled the tough Akron layout. With no cut at the event Lee said he felt no pressure and was just enjoying himself.
“I’m really happy with my round,” he said. "I recovered well from some of my tee shots. Unfortunately on the last hole I hit my tee shot way right and it’s such a hard course to play if you miss the fairway. Hopefully I can do better tomorrow. I have a good feeling about this week. "
Tied with Allenby and Lee is world number one Tiger Woods who returns to the Firestone Country Club for the first time since he won the event in 2007. Woods’ record at the event is outstanding with six victories, a tie for second and two fourth places from nine appearances. Also on two under are Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jiminez and Hunter Mahan.
World number eight Geoff Ogilvy is a further shot back finishing the day at one under par after dropping two shots in his last six holes. Starting at the tenth in the afternoon groups, Ogilvy, winner of the 2009 Mercedes Benz Championship and WGC Accenture Match Play Championship bogeyed the 4th and 17th to fall back to one under.
“I could have been a couple better but it could be worse around here,” said Ogilvy who had a two week break before the tournament. "There are a lot of fairways that are virtually impossible to hit and when you don’t, it’s a very frustrating place. "
West Australian Nick O’Hern is the next best placed Australasian closing with a two over round of 72. Three over after 12, O’Hern birdied 13 and 17 to move back to one over but a bogey at 18 dropped him back to 72.
“I didn’t hit many greens on the front nine so I got myself into trouble but I played much better on the back nine. It was just a matter of staying patient and I did so that’s promising for tomorrow and I’ll take that momentum in,” said the 2006 Australian PGA Championship winner.
A shot behind O’Hern is Tasmanian Mat Goggin and Victorian Stuart Appleby who both shot opening rounds of 73, followed by Nathan Green on four over and Adam Scott who shot an eight over 78.
Defending Champion Vijay Singh shot an even par 70 while Phil Mickelson who returns to the course after a six week break due to his wife Sandy undergoing treatment for breast cancer also shot even par.
World number three Englishman Paul Casey withdrew from the event after six holes due to injury.
Source – PGA Tour
