Triumvirate heads Bridgestone Invitational
BY Fred Norks | US PGA Tour | 2007 Bridgestone Invitational | Round One | 03 Aug 2007
Bridgestone debutante Hunter Mahan, Rory Sabbatini and a revitalised Paul Casey head an all star field at the US$8 million Bridgestone Invitational following a record high scoring first day of play where only 13 players managed to break par.
The trio each posted a 3-under 67 on the famed South Course at the Firestone Golf Club to take a narrow one shot lead in to the second day. The leading score was the highest first round total since the event became a World Golf Championships event in 1999.
Mahan, who won the Travelers Championship last month and finished equal 6th at the recent British Open, has been a pillar of consistency with four top-8 finishes over the past month.
The Californian-born Mahan attributes his recent turn around in success to increased self-belief.
“The people around me, my psych guy and my swing coach Marius and my caddie, they saw it. They knew I could do it. I was so negative toward myself, I thought I was the worst player in the world. I didn’t see it.”
“After I qualified for the Open, I just made a choice not to do it anymore, not to be negative, not to have self-pity and feel sorry for myself. That’s going to get you nowhere quickly. I decided to stop doing it and take control of what I was doing. It’s been good ever since.”
Five-time winner of the event, Tiger Woods, sits one just one back off the pace and was satisfied with his opening day’s efforts.
“I hit the ball pretty good today and just hit a couple loose ones. Short game was decent today. Thought I had some pretty good touch on the greens.”
Stuart Appleby leads the Australasian contingent following a round that began with four birdies in three holes. Appleby was upbeat about his performance today following a string of recent spate of missed cuts.
“I think you’ve got to be the eternal optimist, the next round. You never tee off thinking another 5-over par or anything like that. I have generally been playing well. Hopefully I can keep it up for three rounds. Hopefully I can play the rest of the year like this because this was less stress and more enjoyable.”
“I’m just a bit more relaxed with my game, not as picky or critical in many parts, so I’m just trying to be a bit more relaxed and use my natural instinct, which I think my instincts are really good.”
The searing Akron heat and long rough took it’s toll on some of the game’s best with Vijay Singh chopping his way to a 74 to sit in equal 59th alongside Phil Mickelson.
Peter Lonard was the next best of the Australasians behind Appleby in 14th place with Aaron Baddeley another shot back on even par following a rollercoaster round, which included four birdies and four bogeys.
Woods may well have summed up the day well perfectly.
“It’s certainly playing different than most years. Most years, it’s raining here, ball is plugging, you’ve got some low scores. Not this year. Right now, 3 under is leading. And that’s a heck of a round here.”
