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| July 26, 2003 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 25, 1424 |
Bjorn exorcises demons with battling 64
PORTMARNOCK, Ireland, July 25: Thomas Bjorn exorcised a few demons when he took a two-shot lead in the Irish Open first round with a battling eight-under-par 64 on Thursday.
The Dane ironically chipped in from a bunker for birdie at the second and birdied his 16th hole. He took three attempts to escape from the par-three 16th bunker in the British Open final round on Sunday, running up the double-bogey that cost him his first major title.
His nine birdies, with just one dropped shot, earned him a two-stroke lead over playing partner Campbell, with Briton Paul Broadhurst a further shot behind.
Bjorn’s 64 set the new course record at the revamped links just outside Dublin, a remarkable achievement for the determined 32-year-old, who threw away a three-stroke lead at Royal St George’s with three holes left, handing the title to rookie Ben Curtis.
While Bjorn insisted he was focused out on the course, he admitted his thoughts had turned to Sandwich and the 16th again the previous night.
Campbell holed a 50-foot eagle putt on the sixth but had to settle for a 66 to stay on the Dane’s shoulder, while the third man in the group, Harrington, also contended strongly with a 69.
Six Britons shared fourth place on four under, Luke Donald, the promising youngster playing his first regular European tour event, recent European Open winner Phillip Price, Greg Owen, Gary Emerson, Simon Khan and Stephen Gallacher.
Britain’s Mark Roe, disqualified in the British Open for failing to swap cards with playing partner Jesper Parnevik and signing for the wrong score, also carded 69.
Jose Maria Olazabal, the 1990 Irish Open winner the last time it was staged at Portmarnock, bogeyed the last two holes for a 70, while Darren Clarke, one of the pre-tournament favourites, slumped to a 75.
First round scores
64 Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)
66 Michael Campbell (New Zealand)
67 Paul Broadhurst
68 Luke Donald, Gary Emerson, Stephen Gallacher, Simon Khan, Greg Owen, Phillip Price
69 Warren Bennett, Simon Dyson, Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Robert Karlsson (Sweden), David Lynn, Ben Mason, Brendan McGovern (Ireland), Jean-Francois Remesy (France), Carlos Rodiles (Spain), Mark Roe
70 Arjun Atwal (India), Peter Fowler (Australia), David Gilford, Peter Hedblom (Sweden), Jean Hugo (South Africa), Peter Lawrie (Ireland), Malcolm MacKenzie, Damian Mooney, Jarrod Moseley (Australia), Peter O’Malley (Australia), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), Ian Poulter, Andrew Raitt, Alvaro Salto (Spain), Simon Wakefield, Lee Westwood
Haas, Jacobson lead
CROMWELL (Connecticut): Veterans Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen grabbed a share of the lead at the Greater Hartford Open on Thursday after firing seven-under-par 63s as Suzy Whaley overcame a shaky start to finish well.
Teaching professional Whaley, the second woman to play against the men in 58 years, settled after a double-bogey start and birdied the 18th hole to card a respectable 75.
The 36-year-old mother of two qualified to play in this tournament by winning a PGA sectional competition and ended the opening round ahead of 13 of her competitors, including a pair of former major champions.
The 1988 U.S. Open winner Scott Simpson shot a 77, while David Duval — British Open champion two years ago — continued his run of poor play by recording an 83, the worst score in the field.
World number one Annika Sorenstam also played on the PGA Tour in May after accepting an exemption to compete in the Colonial. The Swede fired 71 and 74 but missed the cut.
First round scores
63 Jay Haas, Peter Jacobsen
64 Dennis Paulson
65 Craig Barlow
66 K.J. Choi (Korea), Kenny Perry, Willie Wood, Todd Fischer,Jonathan Kaye, J.J. Henry
67 Steve Pate, Paul Goydos, Brad Faxon, Matt Gogel, Mike Standly, Garrett Willis, Mark Brooks, Phil Mickelson, Jonathan Byrd, Aaron Baddeley (Australia), Neal Lancaster, Mike Heinen, Matthew Goggin (Australia), Brian Bateman.—Reuters
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