Tiger Woods, the hunted, not the hunter at Open

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2005 British Open | Round One | 15 Jul 2005

The Open Championship got underway with the hot favourite, Tiger Woods, making the early statement that a repeat of 2000 was well and truly on the cards.

With seven birdies in the first twelve holes, Woods threatened to blow apart the field and the tournament but bogeys at the 13th slowed his progress before a fine birdie from a difficult angle at the last saw him justly rewarded for what was the start he was looking for. With his nose in front so early in the event, he has a commanding presence on the leaderboard and rather than he being the one chasing as has so often been the case in recent majors, the field are now chasing the world number one.

Woods was out relatively early, just under two hours after the first to tee off on day one and as a result will face the afternoon conditions on day two with a tee time of 1:31 pm (10:31pm AEST).

There were several impressive efforts from those just behind and they were not about to let Woods early presence on the leaderboard get the better of them.

Peter Lonard had one of the more topsy turvy rounds of the day with seven birdies and an eagle and at one stage shared the lead with Goosen and Luke Donald. Lonard fell victim to a double bogey at the 3rd before bouncing back with three more birdies before a shaky couple of holes at the 12th and 13th, where he dropped three shots. He was back again almost immediately with an eagle at the par five 14th then a birdie from eight feet at the 15th. He made two good saves at the 16th and 17th then made the almost obligatory birdie at the reachable par four 18th, from twelve feet. Lonard had more red on his card than any other player in round one.

Another Australian would also leave his mark on day one but that would come much later in the day when Mark Hensby, who has taken the golfing world by storm this season with a 5th placing at the Masters and a third placing at the US Open, emerged from the late tee times with an opening 67. Hensby, out at 2:20pm (11:20pm AEST) and playing in the event for the first time, just as he had at Augusta and Pinehurst, made an immediate impact with a birdie at the first. A bogey at the second gave no real indication of what was to come in fact it was not until he reached the 9th that the momentum swung in his favour. After driving the green at the reachable par four 9th, his eagle had him in the red again and with birdies at the 10th, 12th and 15th, he was home in 33 and around in 67. He had just the one bogey on his card and he continues to surprise with his amazing capacity to handle with ease, conditions that are new and foreign to him.

Hensby said later that he was trying to treat the Championship, and indeed the event itself, like any other course and any other tournament. They were the same sentiments he had used in playing down the importance of the Masters and the US Open and it seems to be working for him. He also downplayed the fear factor of Tiger saying that he is only too prepared to admit that if Tiger plays well then they are all playing for second. He accepts that and is prepared to not let it bother him.

Another playing late in the day, just a group behind Hensby, was Fred Couples who after a slow start picked up five birdies to be round in 68. Birdies at the 17th and 18th were a finishing bonus. Couples has a good record at the Open with eight top tens. He has played well of late and given that he has an early time on day two, it may just be that we see him continuing to contend into the weekend.

There are many others who have made a good start to the event. Retief Goosen was one of the early leaders when he got to four under through twelve holes before a double bogey at the 13th. He would recover with two more birdies however and at four under has made a fine start to an event in which he has been the only golfer to have had top tens in each of the last three Open Championships.

Also at four under is the great English hope Luke Donald, who is destined to perhaps win several majors in years to come. Playing with Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, Donald set the scene for a reversal to his ordinary British Open record to date, with a solid five birdie, one bogey round that has him heading into what will be an emotion charged second day, well placed. He will play late on day two and with Nicklaus likely to bow out of British Open golf tomorrow Donald will need to be totally focused on his own job while enjoying what will be one of the great moments in the game.

Among others included at the score of 68 were Jose Maria Olazabal, who was a late inclusion in the event, Trevor Immelman and Australian Amateur Champion Eric Ramsey.

The disappointments, perhaps, of day one were Ernie Els who struggled throughout the late afternoon especially in the middle of his round with three consecutive bogeys but who will have an early start tomorrow to make up ground. Phil Mickelson whose back nine of 40, for an opening 74, cost him dearly and Jim Furyk whose first round of 78 has seen any chance of him contending now out the window.

Of the other Australians of note – aside from Hensby and Lonard – Robert Allenby who played with Woods was around in two under 70 after two costly double bogeys late in his round. It was still a much better start in this event for Allenby. Adam Scott started well with two early birdies and eventually settled for a two under 70 to give himself a good start to the event. He has an afternoon tee time on day two.

Geoff Ogilvy was the only other Australian under par although Stuart Appleby, Richard Green, Greg Norman and Euan Walters are all at even par. It was an impressive effort from Norman given his lack of play lately.

The cut looks as if it will be around three or four over given current conditions.