PGA Tour rookie Nick Watney shot a bogey free eight-under-par 64 to grab the lead after Thursday’s opening round of the $4,6-million PGA Buick Open.
The 24-year-old rookie has missed the cut in every event he’s played and shot lower than 70 once since finishing tied for 11th at the Wachovia Championship in May.
He showed no signs of a struggling player on Thursday, reeling off eight birdies, including three in a row to close his round and take a one-shot lead.
Watney said a break, a lesson and a club change resulted in his flawless round.
”I was struggling with my ball striking. I really didn’t have the direction at all,” he said. ”I took last week off and actually had a lesson in Las Vegas with Butch Harmon, and he gave me some stuff to work on.
”I actually switched putters and everything seemed to click today.”
Defending champion Vijay Singh and Jason Bohn are one shot back after shooting 65.
Singh was tied for the lead after back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15. A bogey at the 18th dropped Singh into a tie for second.
While Watney and Singh capitalised on a number of birdie opportunities, Woods was unable to generate any momentum and settled for a one-under 71.
Starting on number 10, Tiger Woods opened his round with eight consecutive pars before carding his first birdies of the day on 18.
He had chances from inside 10 feet on 15 and 16 but came up empty.
”It’s been a while where I didn’t get anything out of my round, not one shot. It’s frustrating because I felt like I drove it great today,” Woods said. ”I hit driver just about every hole and piped them, and from there, the adventure began.”
Woods’s only bogey of the day came at the par-four second. He got back under par on the par-three eighth after sticking his tee shot within three feet.
Although seven shots back, Woods knows he’s just a round away from getting right back into contention.
”I didn’t really play awful, that’s the great thing,” Woods said. ”I’ll just go ahead and handle my business tomorrow and if I get something out of my round, I’ll be fine.”
Jim Furyk, the winner here in 2003, shot a 66 and is tied for fourth with five others. — Sapa-AFP