TROON, Scotland — Four days after nearly making history at the British Open, Greg Norman labored to a 4-over-par 75 on Thursday in the opening round of the Seniors British Open to finish seven shots behind co-leaders Bruce Vaughan and Eduardo Romero.
In sunny conditions, Norman bogeyed six of the first 10 holes and was 6-over-par before he birdied the par-4 13th. He birdied the final hole with a pitch to 3 feet.
“Things just weren’t going my way early on,” Norman said. “I just had to hang in there and gut it out the best I could. The ball just wasn’t rolling my way.”
While Norman struggled, playing partner Tom Watson made every green and missed only one fairway in a bogey- free 70. Andy Bean, John Cook, Kirk Hanefeld and Nick Job were one shot off the lead.
Coloradan Craig Stadler hit a hole-in-one at the “postage stamp” eighth hole — the shortest in the history of the British Open — winning 123 bottles of wine, one for every yard, as a prize from a sponsor. Stadler used a pitching wedge to the front of the green and the ball bounced twice before rolling in. Stadler finished with a 74.
Weir shares Canadian lead
OAKVILLE, Ontario — Mike Weir shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 for a share of the Canadian Open lead with Anthony Kim and Eric Axley during the suspended first round. Only half of the players were able to finish the round that was delayed for 5 hours, 42 minutes.
“You want to take advantage of today because it’s only going to get a little firmer and faster,” Weir said. “Maybe not with what’s coming. Maybe not.”
Richard Johnson, J.P. Hayes, Nicholas Thompson, Ryan Armour and Jason Allred shot 67s on the course saturated by 8 inches of rain in six days. John Senden and Charley Hoffman also were 4-under.
Ochoa leads Evian Masters
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Lorena Ochoa shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Ahn Sun-Ju, Candie Kung and Angela Park after the first round of the Evian Masters.
Annika Sorenstam had four bogeys in her round of 71, six shots off the lead.
The Associated Press
