CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tiger Woods matched the course record with a 30 on the front nine, where he closed with three consecutive birdies Thursday morning to finish off a 7-under-par 65 at the Quail Hollow Championship.
Phil Mickelson followed in the afternoon by chipping in for eagle and making a remarkable par save from under a video board for a 5-under 67 that put him in a tie for second.
Woods was plodding along the back nine, failing to birdie either of the par 5s, until he ran off six birdies and two splendid par saves on the front nine. After twice putting himself in tough positions, he hit a low pitch out of a swale on the second hole to a foot, then hit another wedge that stopped a few inches next to the cup on the fourth.
“I hit a couple of loose shots here and there, but I really putted well,” Woods said. “I had a couple of key saves — made a nice little up-and-down at 2 and just a really good save at 4 that kept the round going. It’s always nice when you birdie the last three.”
For Mickelson, it was sweet to finish with a par. From a fairway bunker on the par-4 18th, he wanted to lay up short of the green but pulled his shot while trying to avoid a creek that runs down the left side. The ball went under a large video board, and Mickelson took his free drop on a slope of grass above the cart path.
Then came a wedge that spun just enough to stop 2 feet away.
“It’s nice to finish with a par,” he said. “I ended up playing a good round.”
Steve Marino and Robert Allenby also opened with 67s. The group another shot back included two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, Hunter Mahan, Jeff Maggert and Lucas Glover. Masters champion Angel Cabrera opened with a 70, along with defending champion Anthony Kim.
Daly seven strokes back at Spanish Open
GIRONA, Spain — Still serving a six-month PGA Tour suspension, John Daly made his 2009 debut on the European Tour with a 2-under 70 in the first round of the Spanish Open to trail leader Soren Hansen by seven strokes.
Hansen had nine birdies and an eagle to overcome an early double bogey and lead Thomas Levet by one.
Daly sported a slimmed down look and a new swing, but knew he was going to be rusty.
“I hit it pretty good but didn’t make a lot of putts,” the 43-year-old American said.
The Associated Press
