Els, Furyk go low at Mercedes season opener
BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2003 Mercedes Championships | Round One | 10 Jan 2003
2002 British Open winner and world No 3, Ernie Els has closed the first round of the season-opening US$5 million Mercedes Championships in a share of the lead alongside 2001 winner, Jim Furyk. Each player posted a -9 (64) to lead a group of three players including Chris Riley, Gene Sauers, and Jerry Kelly at -8 (65) by one stroke.
Els missed the prestigious event in Hawaii last year because of a winless 2001 and with both world No 1 Tiger Woods and No 2 Phil Mickelson absent this week; Els will surely be very difficult to beat. The South African has lost in a playoff with Woods here in 2000 and backed it up with a third the next year, 2001.
Kiwi Phil Tataurangi, playing this week thanks to his win at the Invensys Classic in Las Vegas late last year, heads up the three man ANZ field at -5 and in equal 9th place. Tataurangi sits alongside recent “Rookie of the Year” winner, Jonathan Byrd, Luke Donald, Loren Roberts and Vijay Singh.
Craig Perks is next best at -4 and equal 14th. Perks at one stage during the round was as high as 4 following two double-bogeys in the first four holes, however, two quick-fire birdies on the front nine and six on the way home bought him back to the field.
Craig Parry closed the day in five-way tie for 23rd at -2 (71). Defending champion Sergio Garcia was also in the group along with Justin Leonard.
