DORAL, Fla. — The way Tiger Woods has been playing, former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy figured he would have to stay ahead of him each day if he wanted to win the CA Championship. Never mind he was tied for the lead.
With one round on the Blue Monster in the books Thursday, Ogilvy was two up on Woods.
Ogilvy continued to shake off the rust by playing bogey- free in a round of 7-under-par 65, taking advantage of a generous shift in wind that turned the fearsome 18th into a pushover. He hit wedge into 8 feet for one last birdie, and Miguel Angel Jimenez also birdied the final hole to join him atop the leaderboard.
“You know starting the week if you want to win the tournament, you’re going to have to beat him because you know he’s going to be in contention come the last nine holes here on Sunday,” Ogilvy said of Woods. “It’s just one of his happy places, obviously.”
One shot out of the lead was Stewart Cink.
Undefeated since September, Woods made a late charge as the sky darkened and rain began to fall, making three birdies over four holes to get within one shot. His day ended bitterly, however, when he three-putted from 70 feet for a 67.
Phil Mickelson rallied from a double bogey in the water with four birdies over his final six holes to match Woods at 67, and they were joined by Adam Scott.
Footnotes.
Bo Van Pelt opened with an 8-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead over Ted Purdy and Kyle Thompson after the first round of the inaugural Puerto Rico Open.
• Sven Struver shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Hennie Otto after the first round of the Madeira Islands Open.
The Associated Press
