 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 
|
Off the pace Woods cold with putter, opens with 70 in New ZealandPosted: Wednesday January 09, 2002 10:06 PMUpdated: Thursday January 10, 2002 12:25 PM
PARAPARAUMU BEACH, New Zealand (AP) -- Tiger Woods opened the New Zealand Open with a 1-under-par 70 Thursday to fall six strokes behind Australia's Scott Gardiner. "I hit the ball well, I just didn't make any putts. It was a tough day on the greens," said Woods, who birdied all three par-5s on the Paraparaumu Beach links. "I feel I should have been a few shots lower, but it's the first day and you also don't want to shoot yourself out of the tournament. It's the kind of golf course where if you get a little careless you can run up a score." Woods, coming off a tie for 10th last week in the Mercedes Championships, is playing in New Zealand for the first time as a tribute to his caddie, Steve Williams, who grew up near the course. A large crowd and security force followed Woods around the course, with no problems reported. "They're great, just doing their job," Woods said of the police officers. "I just wish they'd throw my ball back when I hit it in the woods."
The tournament has been marred by turmoil since Woods agreed to play, with the U.S. Embassy in Wellington receiving a letter last month containing cyanide and a threat to disrupt the event. There also was controversy over Woods' $2 million appearance fee, along with tickets that were priced 10 times higher than normal. A boycott by some top New Zealand players was avoided when organizers agreed to allow fans under 16 to attend free of charge. The American got off to a slow start in the sunny morning conditions. He missed a 5-foot birdie putt on his first hole, the 10th, then failed to convert a 15-footer on No. 11. After a 325-yard drive and 5-iron approach to 15 feet on the par-5 12th, he settled for a birdie after missing an eagle putt. It was more of the same on the par-4 13th, where he hit his approach shot pin high but missed the birdie putt. Woods made a par-saving putt on the par-4 15th after chipping from a difficult spot in sloping rough just off the green. He three-putted the 17th - a hole he called the course's most difficult -- for a bogey to fall back to even par. But a birdie on No. 18 left him 1 under after nine. The breeze picked up two holes later -- as Woods said he hoped it would -- but his game didn't. After a bad chip on No. 4, his 14th hole, he lipped out a 7-foot par putt for bogey.
He did a half-twirl with his putter and pulled a new ball out of his bag, hoping for better luck. He nearly hit out of bounds on No. 6 and had to have a spectator locate his ball. He birdied No. 7 from a foot, and closed with two pars. Woods and Williams had trouble reading the greens. "They're a bit on the wavy side," Woods said. "You hit good putts and they veer off at the end. It makes you a bit indecisive. I have the guy who's been around here most on my bag and we're both trying to read them." Gardiner made a 50-foot eagle putt on No. 18 for a 7-under 64. "I just thought I'd pop it up close, and it went in," said Gardiner. "I even surprised myself." Australia's James McLean, the 1998 NCAA champion for the University of Minnesota, shot a 65, and New Zealand's Steve Alker and Australia's Brett Rumford followed at 66. New Zealand's Michael Campbell, the 2000 winner, topped a group at 67. Jae An, the 13-year-old South Korean who qualified for the tournament Monday, opened with a 71. An, who attends school in New Zealand, shot a 65 at Waikanae to earn a spot in the field. Defending champion David Smail of New Zealand, playing in Woods' group, shot a 73.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
