NEWS ROUND-UP: STEVE LOWERY took an early lead at the Buick Open in Michigan yesterday and set a low score for Tiger Woods to chase as the world number one recovered afetr a sluggish start on his first return to action since the British Open.
American Lowery posted an opening round of 63 at the par-72, 7,127-yard Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc to lead the early wave of starters.
Lowery’s nine-under score was one better than that of Australian John Senden, who shot a 64.
Senden’s compatriot James Nitties and South Korea’s YE Yang carded 65s.
Another Australian, Greg Chalmers, returned to the clubhouse with a six-under 66, as did American Paul Goydos, while two more Australians, Marc Leishman and Rod Pampling, as well as South African Rory Sabbatini, joined Americans Tom Byrum, Tom Pernice Jr, Chris Stroud and Jay Williamson at five under, four shots behind Lowery.
Woods, who missed the cut at Turnberry three weeks ago for only the fifth time in his professional career, is now embarking on a three-week stint on the USPGA Tour which will take in the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and the USPGA Championship.
Looking for a fourth tournament victory of the year and a third Buick Open win at Warwick Hills, Woods was two-under par after 14 holes, after earlier bogeyed the par-fours at the second and fifth.
On both occasions Woods’s putting was found wanting.He three-putted from inside 12 feet at the second, while at the fifth, having overshot the green with his second shot, he failed to convert a par putt from inside six feet.
World number nine Jim Furyk, the only other top-10 ranked player in the field, shot a three-under 69, as did Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden and US Open runner-up David Duval, who is looking to make his first cut since that Bethpage Black finish in mid-June.
RYDER CUPplayer Robert Karlsson's long injury lay-off is to extend into a third month and will keep him out of both next week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio and the following week's US PGA Championship in Minnesota.
Last season’s European number one, suffering from a retina problem in his left eye thought to be stress-related, last played at the European Open at the end of May.
Karlsson played in a pro-am before the SAS Masters in Malmo last Wednesday, but returned home to Monaco for more tests.
Manager Lilliam Jansson said: “His eye is much better, but not totally good so on doctor’s orders he will not play until after the next doctor’s appointment on August 23rd.”
TED OHand Gavin Flint share the first-round lead at the Brunei Open after carding 64s at the Empire Hotel and Country Club.
Korean Oh sank five birdies and an eagle at the 15th but missed makable birdie putts at the second and the fourth which would have seen him top the leaderboard outright.
Flint, meanwhile, recorded seven birdies in his seven-under effort and the Australian admitted he was surprised to shoot such a low score. “I haven’t been playing too well so today was a bit of a shock,” he said.
VALHALLA GOLFClub, venue for last year's Ryder Cup, will host the 2014 USPGA Championship, the USPGA of America announced yesterday.
The Jack Nicklaus designed layout, located just outside Louisville, Kentucky, has twice previously hosted the PGA Championship.
NOEL FOXput together a fine first round one under par 70 in gusting, changeable conditions at the Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club in the Scottish Highlands yesterday to move into contention for the Scottish Hydro Challenge.
Fox leads the Irish players with Michael McGeady and Peter O’Keefe posting one over 72s and Colm Moriarty a three over 74.
Andrew McArthur shares the lead with England’s Robert Coles and Frenchman Julien Guerrier on four under 67.
