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LYTHAM – Tiger Woods made a storming start to the 141st British Open at Royal Lytham on Thursday, taking a solo lead at one point with four early birdies as he reached the turn in 30.
Seeking a 15th major title four years after his last major win at the US Open, the 36-year-old American got off to a perfect start by sinking a 10-footer for birdie at the par-three first.
He then moved into a share of the lead at two under with an 20-foot putt at the fourth and picked up two more shots at the sixth and seventh to stand a stroke clear off the field.
It could have been even better for him as birdie putts marginally missed the cup at the eighth and ninth.
Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan, playing in his first Major, birdied No. 4 after three straight pars as he joined 13 others in 11th place in what promises to be a good start for the Filipino shotmaker.
Australia’s Adam Scott, still looking for a first major title at the age of 31, drew level with Woods with a birdie at the 12th and then took the lead at five under on the next hole.
On three under were Masters Champion Bubba Watson (through 10 holes), 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell (10 holes) and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson (11 holes).
Leading English hope Lee Westwood got off to the perfect start with birdies on the first two holes, but a skewed approach to the third resulted in a double bogey.
Another dropped shot followed at the sixth as the World No. 3’s usually solid iron play let him down, but he had birdies at the seventh and ninth to reach the turn in one-under 33.
Defending champion Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland was at two over after 10 holes and English hope Justin Rose was a disappointing five over after eight holes.
There were few early fireworks in keeping with a subdued atmosphere to start the 141st Open Championship with fans huddled up against the cold and sheltering under umbrellas from the patchy rain coming in off the Irish Sea.
The course was lush and the greens soft and receptive, leaving Royal Lytham’s 206 pot bunkers as the main obstacles to be overcome by a field of 156, US Open joint runner-up Michael Thompson getting in as a last-minute replacement for fellow American Russ Cochran.
With skies clearing somewhat as the morning wore on and the birdie count accelerating, the early leaders in the clubhouse were on one-under 69.
They were 26-year-old English qualifier Matthew Baldwin and 40-yearold Adilson da Silva, a South-African based Brazilian who battled back from three over after four holes.
A win for Woods would leave him three shy of the majors milestone mark of 18 set by Jack Nicklaus in 1986 and it would complete a clean sweep of golf’s four top tournaments for Americans for the first time since 2004.
That situation came about following wins for Keegan Bradley at last year’s US PGA Championship, Bubba Watson at the Masters and Webb Simpson at the US Open, a remarkable turnaround for US fortunes after going six majors without a win.
The competition for major glory at Royal Lytham was ferocious, however, with the top three ranking golfers in the world all being British.
No.1 Luke Donald and No. 3 Westwood are both long overdue a win in the majors, having failed to do so a combined 93 times in the past.
Westwood, at 39, is seen as the better bet due mainly to his accuracy off the tee and his past near misses in the Open.
Games tomorrow
Mapua vs Arellano U (jrs) 12 noon –
San Beda vs Letran (jrs) 2 p.m. –
Mapua vs Arellano U (srs) 4 p.m. –
San Beda vs Letran (srs) 6 p.m. –
San Beda drew inspiration from the return of Nigerian Ola Adeogun as it turned back a feisty Emilio Aguinaldo College side, 81-65, to wrest the solo lead in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.
Coming off a four-game suspension for misconduct late last year, the 6-8 Adeogun came off the bench and plucked with a teamhigh 14 rebounds, scored nine points and had four blocks in just 22 minutes to help propel the Lions to victory and the lead with a 4-1 (win-loss) record.
“Answered prayers, he’s truly a big blessing,” said San Beda coach Ronnie Magsanoc on his prized rookie center.
Perpetual Help rode on Earl Thompson’s superb allaround performance as it walloped a hapless St. Benilde side, 84-64, to remain tied with San Beda in the lead.
Thompson, from Digos, Davao del Sur, came an assist short of a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists. He also had five steals to help sustain the Altas’ fine start.
“He’s the most hardworking of all my players even in practice and it’s paying off,” said Perpetual coach Aric del Rosario in Filipino.
The Blazers fell to their fourth defeat against two wins.
Adeogun actually got his clearance to play only a couple of hours before gametime, giving Magsanoc and the Lions some anxious moments going into the EAC match.
“Ola got his clearance just two hours before the game that’s why we were not sure this morning if he would be allowed to play,” said Magsanoc. “But he showed what kind of character he has by just coming in and ready to play.” Adeogun was just as relieved as his coach. “I was excited to play because I was so down not playing,” said Adeogun, a native of Lagos, Nigeria. “I’m just happy that I played and coach was supportive and told me to stay cool.”
Jan Jamon paced the Generals with 18 points, including 12 straight points bridging the third and fourth quarters that saw them cut a 20-point lead to just single-digit, 57-65, early in the final period.
STANDINGS Perpetual Help San Beda Jose Rizal San Sebastian Mapua Arellano U Letran St. Benilde Lyceum EAC W 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 L 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 4 4 4