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'El Gato' pounces Romero cards 7-under 64 for European Masters lead
CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland (AP) -- - Edurdo Romero of Argentina demonstrated his fondness for a course others dislike by firing a 7-under-par 64 Thursday to take the first-round lead in the European Masters. The 46-year-old from Cordoba, who won here in 1994 and who has been in the top 10 three times since, topped a leaderboard dominated by non-Europeans on the day that qualifying for next year's European Ryder Cup team began. Romero, known as "El Gato" (The Cat) for the way he stalks and beats his rivals, led by a shot from Michael Campbell of New Zealand with South African Hennie Otto third after a 66. Australian Brett Rumford carded a 67 to share fourth place with the first European to appear on the board, home favorite Paolo Quirici. The better-known Europeans were just behind with Northern Irishman Darren Clarke in a group on 68 and Miguel Jimenez of Spain and Englishmen Lee Westwood and Nick Faldo on 69. Clarke and Westwood were among several players who hinted strongly at a deep dislike of the course. The greens were redesigned in recent years by Seve Ballesteros and which now some describe as "upturned saucers." Clarke said that despite his 68, he was "not at all enamored" and "did not fare too well in the keeping cool department after 15 holes in which I was the consummate professional." Westwood said it was "all a bit of a blur" and would not comment further. Ballesteros shot 74. But Romero, who played after Campbell and Otto had finished, said he was always happy to return to the mountain resort course at Crans-sur-Sierre "because I also live at high altitude in Argentina." He has been overcoming a concentration problem with the help of yoga and has a superstition that he always follows here. He sits at the same table in the same restaurant with compatriot Angel Cabrera every night -- "but not the same menu every night," he said. Romero birdied the opening hole and eagled the par-4 6th with a 110-yard pitching wedge that went in. The best of his other birdies was a chip-in from the fringe at the long 14th. "I played fantastic. But I feel tired now because I'm an old man," he said. Campbell defied the flu to shoot his 65, playing on just three hours sleep as he battled the symptoms all night. "I wasn't thinking too much about the golf shots. But I putted quite well today," said Campbell, who won two European Tour events early this year. He also hit two superb 5-iron shots at the short 11th and 13th holes, to 10 inches and 3 feet ,respectively, for easy birdies. Otto, 24, is a former rugby union player who had to choose between the two sports and opted for golf six years ago. "You can play golf until you're 80. In rugby you're lucky to make it to 35," he explained. He said a change in his management team a few weeks ago and recent work with a sports psychologist have helped bring on his game. Former Ryder Cup player Per-Ulrik Johansson of Sweden withdrew before the start of his round due to illness, a possible recurrence of the mystery virus that has affected him in recent years.
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