March 18, 2006	Saturday	Safar 17, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ORLANDO (Florida) March 17: Bart Bryant already won Jack Nicklaus’ tournament. Opening with a 6-under 66 in the Bay Hill Invitational on Thursday allowed him to think about adding Arnold Palmer’s trophy to his collection.

Bryant surged to the top of a crowded leaderboard with a 3-iron into 12 feet for eagle on the 16th hole and a string of good iron shots for a share of the lead with Dean Wilson.

It was the first time Bryant broke par in the first round this year, a sign that he is finally feeling comfortable after having surgery on his right knee at the end of his stellar 2005 season.

He wasn’t alone in either category knee surgeries and good starts.

Ernie Els missed four months toward the end of last year because of knee surgery, and his return to the U.S. PGA Tour was slowed by tentative play and sloppy starts. He found another gear on a sunny, balmy day at Bay Hill Club by conquering the par-5 sixth hole with a 3-wood over the water and a bending, 50-foot eagle putt on the sixth.

Els wound up with a 67 and had company. He was joined by former British Open champion Ben Curtis, former Bay Hill winner Chad Campbell, Lucas Glover and Jason Gore.

Tiger Woods was poised to join them, despite not feeling the least bit comfortable over his tee shots, approaches to the green or his putting. He was at 4 under until back-to-back bogeys put him at 70.

Despite the fear of 3{-inch (9-centimeter) rough, conditions were dry and players were able to advance the ball from the thick grass close enough to green to get par or better. It still was tough enough that no one went lower than 66, although 22 players shot in the 60s.

Bryant was nowhere near that earlier in the year, and for good reason. He wasn’t able to play at all during the northern offseason _ even riding in a cart when he toured Augusta National late last year — and only last week when he was at home did he feel his knee getting stronger, and his shots going a little farther.

Woods never looked comfortable, especially on the 18th hole (his ninth of the first round). His approach was just over the green in the first cut, and he stubbed a chip that went 4 feet and led to bogey.

First round leading scores:

66 - Bart Bryant, Dean Wilson

67 - Chad Campbell, Ben Curtis, Ernie Els, Lucas Glover, Jason Gore

68 - Robert Allenby, Carlos Franco, Sergio Garcia, Tom Pernice, Lee Westwood

69 - Robert Damron, Bubba Dickerson, Fred Funk, Retief Goosen, Shaun Micheel, Corey Pavin, Ted Purdy, Bubba Watson, Mike Weir, Mark Wilson

70 - Angel Cabrera, Bernhard Langer, Geoff Ogilvy, Greg Owen, Rod Pampling, Justin Rose, Tiger Woods