Ogilvy, Jimenez in front at Doral
IN: News | European PGA | CA Championship (2008) | Round One | by Bruce Young | 21 Mar 2008
Geoff Ogilvy shares the lead after the opening round of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Doral Resort and Spa’s Blue Monster course near Miami. Ogilvy’s bogey free opening round of 7 under par 65 confirms some improving form of late and he and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez stand atop a field of the game’s best after day one.
Ogilvy’s ten foot birdie putt at the final hole put the seal on a round where his driving may not have been all that great but he made up for it with some brilliant iron shots and converted on many occasions. Ogilvy had started season 2008 in a slow fashion but over the past two weeks in Tampa and in Orlando there was clear evidence that things were falling into place and that he was returning the sort of form that saw him finish third in this event last year.
Jimenez started and finished his round with a rush, an eagle at the par five opening hole getting things underway and four birdies in his last five holes allowing him to catch Ogilvy, who had finished 45 minutes earlier. Jimenez’s form in 2008 has hardly been spectacular but he has played only five events to date and following a brilliant display on the greens today he has made a great start to this event.
Stewart Cink, as is his want, snuck into third place with three birdies in his last four holes to move within one. A nine time veteran of events at Doral, Cink’s previous best finish was a 4th, ten years ago.
Almost all of the pre-tournament talk has been on the possibility of Woods winning his 6th consecutive USPGA Tour event, his 8th consecutive tournament worldwide and his 7th WGC-CA Championship (or its equivalent). His five under 67 is a solid and ominous start but a three putt at the last, as rain began to fall, took a little of the gloss of what was still a much better start than had been the case last week at Bay Hill.
Amongst those at five under is Adam Scott, who is playing for the first time since his 30th place finish at the Johnnie Walker Classic in India three weeks ago. It was a bogey free day for the Australian and 13 shots better than his previous round here last year when he shot an 80 on the final day.
After a double bogey at his 12th hole of the day, Phil Mickelson birdied four of his last five holes to move to five under and opened up the opportunity of a possible Woods and Mickelson duel late in the week, although there is a lot to happen between now and then.
Another at five under 67 is Nick O’Hern, who, after the disappointment of being disqualified even before the tournament began last week at Bay Hill, bounced back with a round of 67. O’Hern finished 6th at this venue last year in his first appearance at Doral and so clearly the firm, fast and breezy conditions suit his style of play. O’Hern was five under through ten holes but lost momentum with a bogey at his 11th hole before a two putt birdie at the 17th had him back within two of the first round lead.
Of the other Australasians, Aaron Baddeley and Robert Allenby had 69, Paul Sheehan 72, Craig Parry, Mark Brown and Stuart Appleby 73, Richard Green 74 and Brendan Jones 76.
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