Golf’s ”quiet man”, Retief Goosen, has been quieter than usual over the past six weeks while enjoying a seasonal break back home in South Africa.
But it did not take the two-times United States Open winner long to find his marks at the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday, firing a tremendous eight-under-par 64 opening round under perfect playing conditions on the Majlis Course.
That gave him a share of the early first-day lead alongside Richard Green, the Australian leftie who scored the biggest win of his career here in 1997, and Welshman Jamie Donaldson.
Goosen, who moved up to world number three despite his inactivity, had a wobbly start from the ninth as he sought to get back into the groove, but an eagle at the par-five 13th did the trick and he went out in a scorching five-under 32.
Three more birdies on the front nine brought him in with the clubhouse lead in a tournament he has yet to win despite several near misses.
His rapid return to top form, he said, has surprised him.
”The last six weeks I had a good break. I played six rounds of golf in those six weeks,” he said. ”I must say coming out I didn’t expect a lot.
”In the exhibition match, I was hitting it pretty bad, but at least I know I was putting well. That’s what I did today. I missed a lot of fairways, but I made a lot of putts.”
The 37-year-old Goosen also revealed that he has been receiving treatment for a wrist injury that he may have picked up playing with his children. ”But luckily it doesn’t really hurt me when I hit the ball,” he said.
Green, who had eight birdies in his 64, said that just coming back to play in Dubai brought great memories flooding back from his win here nine years ago.
”Usually the practice rounds are a pretty good day just to sort of remember what happened,” he said. ”I had quite a few shots from where I was and the play-off, and remembering I won just puts you in the right frame of mind for the week.”
Asked what has changed in his approach since he won the tournament, Green replied that he has got rid of his wife, at least from caddying for him as she did then.
”I’ve got a much more professional and experienced caddie on the bag now. I aim to play like the top guys and make it happen rather than get lucky.”
Donaldson joined Goosen and Green at the top of the leaderboard despite his ongoing battles with a hereditary spinal deformity problem that requires him to do daily exercises.
The warmth of the Dubai sun, he said, is a helpful factor.
”I do feel a lot freer when it is warmer,” he said. ”I feel more comfortable and there is less a chance of me getting a problem with it.”
Reigning champion Ernie Els had a quiet day but still came in with a bogey-free four-under 68, the same as playing partner Lee Westwood of England.
But it was a disappointing day for European number one Colin Montgomerie, who struggled to a two-over 74 after opening with an unrecognisable five-over 42 on the back nine.
The Scot may have been distracted, though, by having just finalised the financial settlement of his divorce from wife Eimaar, which British press reports put at a £15-million one-off payment.
Tournament favourite Tiger Woods got his bid to win the Desert Classic for the first time at his third attempt off to a blistering start with an eagle at the third and he was four under through six holes. — Sapa-AFP