Garcia exacts revenge at Carnoustie
IN: News | European PGA | British Open (2007) | Round One | by Bruce Young | 20 Jul 2007
Eight years ago Sergio Garcia played in his first major championship as a professional at Carnoustie and left the golf course on the Friday evening of that event wondering just what had hit him. Today, after Garcia’s round of six under par 65, the rest of the field in round one of the 2007 Open Championship might just be wondering what had hit them.
After rounds of 89 and 83 in 1999, Garcia had not exactly made an auspicious start to his professional major career. Despite a near miss at his very next major when he finished runner up to Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship, he has still not won a major. He is regularly touted as one of the best players in the game not to have won a major and has gone close on several occasions.
Unlike many others in the field, Garcia improved over the back nine holes today, producing five birdies and one bogey on his way in after an opening nine of two under. He played the tough and demanding finishing stretch of holes as well as most and finds himself one ahead of Paul McGinley and two ahead of a host of players at three under 68 including Michael Campbell, Angel Cabrera, Markus Brier, Rory McIlroy and Boo Weekly.
Cabrera has played two events since his historic US Open win and appears to have settled back into the routine that that victory no doubt disrupted. Two late birdies moved him into contention as he looks to improve on his 4th place finish here in 1999.
Michael Campbell’s performance was surprising given where he has been with his game of late. He put much of his improvement down to the inclusion of an Odyssey Two ball putter in his bag of late and holed several long putts en route to his round of 68. Campbell has shown previously a capacity to win at the highest level when least expected and he has made the sort of start that opens up that opportunity for him.
K.J. Choi led for much of the early part of the day having teed off at 7:36am. Four birdies in his first six holes had him with a two shot lead and he maintained that for much of his round until two late bogeys dropped him back.
Tiger Woods looked very impressive and menacing in his opening round of 69 and has himself well positioned. Woods missed a couple of chances on the opening two holes but a birdie at the third and a brilliant eagle at the par five 6th saw him within one of Choi at that point. He struggled a little early in his back nine holes but a birdie at the long par three 16th saw him finish with a very acceptable start in his quest to become only the second player since the event became a 72 hole contest to win the Championship on three consecutive occasions.
Of the other leading ranked players, Jim Furyk played late in the day and snuck in under the radar with an encouraging start. His round of 70 included a bogey at the last but he is well placed to take advantage of an early morning start on day two.
Phil Mickelson also bogeyed the last for his round of even par 71, Ernie Els bogeyed the last two holes for one over 72 while Vijay Singh dropped three shots in his last three holes for a round of 72
The cool, damp conditions are expected to last for much of the week but the scoring generally was very good in conditions that were perhaps as conducive to good scoring as could have been expected.
The best of the Australians was Rod Pamplin,g who gained some revenge on a golf course that no doubt contains mixed memories for him. Hi second round demise in 1999 is considered by Pampling to be more important to others that it has been to himself but clearly he will have enjoyed what was a solid round. Like many others he bogeyed the last but he has further erased some of the memories that had evolved from his first major championship eight years ago.
Nick O’Hern was next best in what was an overall disappointing day for the large Australian contingent. O’Hern’s round of 71 has him in 25th position despite an ordinary day on the greens for him.
John Senden, Matthew Zions and Richard Green are all at 1 over 72 with Zions making a solid start to his very first major championship.
