A seven-hour rain delay seriously affected not only the playing schedule of the Deutsche Bank TPC of Europe here at St Leon Rot yesterday, but the sponsor's prospects of gaining full value from their investment in Tiger Woods. And I understand the magic figure has gone up to $2.5 million as a result of last month's US Masters triumph.
"No, TV interviews tonight guys - wait till he does a good score," said manager Mark Steinberg after the world number one had carded a 69, the same as the opening round of his victorious effort here two years ago. But it paled somewhat when compared with a stunning, 10-under-par 62 from Michael Campbell.
Torrential overnight rain left the course utterly sodden yesterday morning. And when it became possible to start, there was sufficient daylight only for those in the top half of the draw to go into action. So the merit of Campbell's effort can be properly assessed only when the first round is completed today.
Regarding the appearance fee for the world number one: it seems the original agreement was for $2.25 million with an additional $250,000 were he to win at Augusta. In return, Woods contracted to take part last night in a made-for-television spectacular on the Neckar River in Heidelberg.
Under the title "Beat the Pro" there were preliminary competitions over the last six days to decide who would face six selected professionals - Woods, Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Bernhard Langer. The challenge was to be nearest the pin on a specially-constructed 14 square-metre island green in the river, 60 metres away. The first winner was an eight-year-old boy.
Meanwhile, six of the seven Irish challengers were in action yesterday, the only exception being Eamonn Darcy, a late-starter. In a rearranged draw, he faces 36 holes today, starting at 7.50 a.m. and 1 p.m., local time, while yesterday's early starters such as Woods and Clarke, will commence their second round at 5.50 p.m. local time, clearly too late to finish it.
Playing with Woods, Clarke was furious at carding a 76 which could have been worse, given he had double-bogeys on two of his opening three holes. Starting on the 10th, he had to take a penalty drop after blocking his drive into reeds and he sustained the same penalty at the 12th with another pushed drive into bushes.
On current form, it was almost predictable Paul McGinley would be the best of the Irish, despite curtailed preparation because of a rib injury. "I'm pleased to have emerged unscathed, both in terms of my body and my score," he said after a 69 which contained four birdies. "And the really good news is that I've had no reaction from my ribs."
Starting on the 10th he had a quietly productive opening half, sinking putts of 12 feet and six feet for birdies on the 11th and 16th. His only slip of the round came at the third (his 12th) which he three putted from 40 feet, but the damage was soon repaired with an eight-foot birdie putt on the long fifth and an 18 footer on the seventh.
Harrington, typically self-critical, described his 70 as "terrible", before going on to highlight the frustration of being unable to carry fine practiceground form onto the course. It also irritated him to three-putt the 18th for the only bogey on an opening nine of 37.
Having progressed to the 540yard first (his 10th), he reduced it to a drive, three wood and two putts for a birdie. He also birdied the second, fifth and sixth but dropped a stroke at the short fourth. "The course was at its most vulnerable today and after missing only one fairway, I should have done better," he added.
Woods had to contend with some extraordinary crowd scenes, especially at the start, when the entire attendance seemed to descend on his three-ball.
"I didn't really play all that good, but it was good enough to get myself in the ball game," he said afterwards. "I just grinded (sic) it out, got it around and made a couple of putts when I had to." And what of the rain-delay? "I've been through this before," he replied. "You get to know how to kill time and when it's time to play, it's time to play." After a first-round 63 in the English Open last June, Campbell, by his own admission, backed off and was eventually beaten into a share of second place by Clarke. "I'm determined not to let that happen again," he said of an exemplary round which contained 10 birdies, no bogeys and halves of 31.
