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Curtis ties with Garcia ahead of Woods in NEC Invitational
Akron, Aug 22: British Open champion Ben Curtis shot a bogey-free six-under-par 64 for a share the first-round lead with Spain`s Sergio Garcia at the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational.
Akron, Aug 22: British Open champion Ben Curtis shot a bogey-free six-under-par 64 for a share the first-round lead with Spain's Sergio Garcia at the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational.
Garcia, seeking his first win of the year while undertaking a swing change, had an eagle and five birdies in his round, including a 16-footer on the final hole to tie for the lead. Curtis is getting married on Saturday and the Firestone Country Club's South Course is close to both his home and where he attended college. "It was a lot of fun to play in front of family and friends," said Curtis, who hit just seven fairways and 11 greens but was saved with a mere 23 putts. "The holes seemed very big today. I was stroking well from the beginning." Curtis and Garcia are one stroke ahead of Tiger Woods, who won the last three NEC Invitationals on this course, and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, who also went round without a bogey.
The world number one surrendered a share of the lead by missing a four-foot par putt at the 17th, but was satisfied with his day.
"I played well. It was nice to get some good bounces and get some momentum going for a change," Woods said.
Four Americans -- David Toms, Davis Love III, Scott Verplank, and Chris Riley -- were next at four-under 66, while five others, including European Tour Order of Merit leader Ernie Els, shot 67.
Scoring conditions on a hot and humid day on the par-70 course were favourable, with the greens relatively soft and the fairway fast and firm. In all, 29 of 85 players broke par.
"With it playing shorter, there are a lot more birdie holes," Toms said.
Garcia, who missed the cut at last week's PGA Championship, went out in 30 on his way to his lowest round of the year on the PGA Tour.
"It was a very positive day," said Garcia, who switched caddies for the week with South Africa's Retief Goosen. "My first 11 holes were really, really good golf, probably the best golf I've played for a while."
This week Garcia is using Greg Hearmon, while Glenn Murray, who usually carries the Spaniard's bag, is on duty for Goosen. According to Goosen -- who shot a 69 -- Garcia and Murray instigated the change.
Bureau Report
Garcia, seeking his first win of the year while undertaking a swing change, had an eagle and five birdies in his round, including a 16-footer on the final hole to tie for the lead. Curtis is getting married on Saturday and the Firestone Country Club's South Course is close to both his home and where he attended college. "It was a lot of fun to play in front of family and friends," said Curtis, who hit just seven fairways and 11 greens but was saved with a mere 23 putts. "The holes seemed very big today. I was stroking well from the beginning." Curtis and Garcia are one stroke ahead of Tiger Woods, who won the last three NEC Invitationals on this course, and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, who also went round without a bogey.
The world number one surrendered a share of the lead by missing a four-foot par putt at the 17th, but was satisfied with his day.
"I played well. It was nice to get some good bounces and get some momentum going for a change," Woods said.
Four Americans -- David Toms, Davis Love III, Scott Verplank, and Chris Riley -- were next at four-under 66, while five others, including European Tour Order of Merit leader Ernie Els, shot 67.
Scoring conditions on a hot and humid day on the par-70 course were favourable, with the greens relatively soft and the fairway fast and firm. In all, 29 of 85 players broke par.
"With it playing shorter, there are a lot more birdie holes," Toms said.
Garcia, who missed the cut at last week's PGA Championship, went out in 30 on his way to his lowest round of the year on the PGA Tour.
"It was a very positive day," said Garcia, who switched caddies for the week with South Africa's Retief Goosen. "My first 11 holes were really, really good golf, probably the best golf I've played for a while."
This week Garcia is using Greg Hearmon, while Glenn Murray, who usually carries the Spaniard's bag, is on duty for Goosen. According to Goosen -- who shot a 69 -- Garcia and Murray instigated the change.
Bureau Report