Europeans dominate early at MasterCard Masters
IN: News | Australasian PGA | MasterCard Masters (2006) | Round One | by David Collinge | 23 Nov 2006
After a morning which saw the lead initially dominated by Australians, the 2006 MasterCard Masters is beginning to feel the presence of the large contingent of talent from the European Tour in the field. Co-sanctioned for the first time, the Masters includes 70 starters from Europe.
Surprisingly, Europe's highest ranked player Paul Casey is not leading the charge. He has picked up just two birdies and a bogey to be at 2 under for the first round.
At midday, outright leaders at 7 under are Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) and Nick Dougherty (ENG). Starting with a birdie and a bogey, the Frenchman then carded three birdies in a row to surge into contention. Jacquelin has a solid pedigree, finishing 45th on the European Tour money list in 2006, and most recently scoring a T13 in the USB Hong Kong Open last week.
Two strokes behind the leaders are Steven Bowditch and Gavin Flint. Aaron Baddeley (playing with Jacquelin) and Craig Parry and Peter Lonard (both in the clubhouse) are 3 off the pace at 4 under. Baddeley has not been worse than par all day, and coming off the back of an outright 9th in last week's Australian Open in Sydney, will continue to threaten across the week.
For Australian supporters, perhaps the most heartening thing so far today is the continuing good form of Steven Bowditch. After an 'annus horribilis' on the USPGA Tour, Bowditch finally seems to be finding a way to realise his great natural ability. He finished the Open last week at T7, and is currently only two off the pace at Huntingdale. Another good result this week might see some of his problems left behind.
Defending champion Robert Allenby is sitting at three under after a disastrous triple bogey on the par 3 fifteenth hole. With a round that included seven birdies, which included a scorching 31 on the front 9, he can not be written off by any means.
Likewise current Australian Open champion John Senden is nicely placed in the pack. Also at 3 under through 18, a blistering 65 like his final round in Sydney is well within his capability.
Despite some comments that the co-sanctioning with the European Tour has seen Aussie players miss out, there's no doubt that the overseas talent has raised the stakes for this year's Masters. The challenge is there for our top players to show that they can match it with the rest of the world.
Huntingdale is treating players well today - with a 65 and 66 already in the clubhouse there is plenty of excitement still to come. Watch out for a move from Australian Peter Wilson. The Masters is shaping for a fierce contest.
Photo - Anthony Powter
