Giles looking dangerous at Sahalee
IN: News | US Mens Amateur | Sahalee Players Championship (2008) | Round One | by Anthony Powter | 02 Jul 2008
Matthew Giles packs a lethal game for an 18-year-old. He proved this last week at the Dogwood Invitational, where the freshman from University of Southern California finished the top Aussie at T12 and 10-under-par, against one of the strongest amateur fields this season in America.
Less than a week later, Giles has bolted from the box in the opening day at the Sahalee Players Championship to become a serious tournament challenger.
Matthew Giles Audio Interview
Giles fired an opening 2-under-par, 70, around over Sahalee’s demanding South and North nines, venue of the 1998 PGA Championship and 2002 World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational, to be just two strokes from the leader, Andrew Landry, who is at 4-under-par.
“Overall, I’m relatively happy with my round today,” said Giles this evening.
“I hit a bad shot into nine, which resulted in a double-bogey, but all-in-all it was a very good round for me, and I’m now well positioned for the thirty-six hole round tomorrow.”
If there was ever to me a moving day, the second round of thirty-six holes at the Sahalee Players Championship in Seattle provides the opportunity for a break-away effort. Giles, however, remains reserved about this tournament evolving into a closed affair.
“This course is just so tough, any score under-par will have you in contention. It’s not like last week at the Dogwood in Atlanta, where 21-under-par got you there.”
“I know all the guys out here as I’ve been up against them in the college system, and I’ll be very surprised if you get a break-away at this tournament. The course is simply too tough and there are too many good players for that to occur.”
Jason Scrivener also opened the tournament in an impressive manner, with a even-par round 72, to be T7, four strokes from the leader. Scrivener’s efforts at last week’s Dogwood Invitational were commendable. He played four sub-par rounds to eventually finish 5-under-par and T32 and it’s only a matter of time before one of our best talents claims a US title. Should it fall Scivener’s way this week, it will be well deserved.
On the course Scrivener is reserved, yet quietly aggressive and his game suits the Sahalee layout, which is noted for rewarding patience. He’s well positioned to make a charge tomorrow, providing he plays patiently and hits fairways and greens.
It’s a repertoire which appears to be the critical component to success around this PGA Tour layout.
“You will be punished if you lose focus and make poor decisions,” says Matt Jager, with seven from eight top-10 finishes back in Australia in National Trial events.
“I guess that’s why this golf course has hosted a major championship. To me is suits my game, but it’s punishing. Picture the 18th at Augusta, at least 50% of the tee shots here are as tight as that!”
Jager opened with a 5-over-par, 77, to be T37 and will be seeking to improve on his first round effort in tomorrow’s 36-hole round.
Jager is a grinder within a tournament. It’s what he did at the 2007 Australian Amateur at NSW Golf Club when he first burst onto the amateur scene. He will continually work his way around a demanding layout like Sahalee, well above his age of just 20.
It’s this level maturity which sets Jager apart from fellow competitors of a similar age, and it will be an invaluable asset for him during this championship, as well as the remaining part of his US tour campaign.
The lone other Australian in the field this week in Seattle, Daniel Nisbet, opened his US tournament start with a 4-over-par, 76, to be placed T34. Like Jager, Nisbet will be looking for an improved effort during tomorrow’s round.
