US TOUR: Tiger Woods returns to competition for the first time since the September 11th terror attacks today looking to make a winning return in his own backyard at the National Car Rental Classic in Florida.
Woods, who has not played since the Bell Canadian Classic in early September, has an insurmountable 54-point lead in the Vardon Trophy standings entering today's first round at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Woods, lives in Orlando, will use this event as a warm-up for the Tour Championship in a fortnight. The world number one has bagged five tournaments and earned more than $5.5 million this year. Although Woods will start as favourite, there is expected to be fierce competition throughout the field as players jostle for places in the 30-man Tour Championship, while others are fighting to retain their Tour cards with only three events left on the 2001 Tour calendar. Among those on the brink of the magic top 30 are 32 - Jerry Kelly, 33 - Jesper Parvenik of Sweden and 35 - Shigeki Maruyama. US Open winner Retief Goosen is 41st. Duffy Waldorf, 108th returns to defend his title.
SENIORS TOUR: Denis Durnian made a great start to his quest to move to the top of the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit when he opened with a six under par 66 during the first round of the Tunisian Seniors Open at El Kantaoui GC yesterday.
Durnian (51) who came into the Tunisian event in second place on the Seniors Tour's Order of Merit but who can overhaul the absent money leader Ian Stanley if he wins the £16,660 first prize, chipped in twice on his way to finishing his round one shot ahead of Brazil's Priscillo Diniz and America's Bob Lendzion.
England's Jim Rhodes and Canada's John Irwin were one shot further back on 68, with Scotland's John Chillas, the club professional at Glenbervie and the current Scottish PGA champion, joining Italy's Renato Campagnoli, New Zealand's Simon Owen and Australians David Good and Noel Ratcliffe in a share of sixth place on 69.
Denis O'Sullivan is best of the Irish after an opening round of one under par 71 while Raymond Kane is next on level par 72. Kenny Stevenson, Liam Higgins and Eddie Polland are at one over par 73.
