Defending champion Adam Scott and three-time Major winner Ernie Els arrived in Asia for this week’s Singapore Open with big reputations and both will be happy to have negotiated the first round firmly in contention.
Scott, who stormed to a seven-stroke victory in the Asian Tour’s flagship event a year ago, shook off the effects of jet-lag after his late arrival in Singapore to fire a one-under 70 that put the Australian just three shots off the lead.
South Africa’s Els recovered from two over after three holes to post an even-par 71 on the testing Serapong Course hosting the $3-million tournament.
Australia’s Scott Strange and Juvic Pagnusan recorded matching 67s to share the lead after the first round.
”It was not too bad really,” world number six Scott told reporters after completing a mixed round that featured five birdies and four bogeys.
”It was tough out there and with the [long] rough, you cannot miss fairways.
”It is not easy to get going out there unless you are hitting a lot of good shots.
”I am pretty happy with one under out there, fortunately I only made bogeys and no doubles … so nothing too disastrous.”
The rough surrounding the fairways is some of the longest in professional golf and Scott feels it could be a little too testing on some holes.
”It is borderline. I do not mind it but when a guy loses a ball in it that’s different,” he added.
”[Playing partner] Andrew Buckle lost his ball off the 18th tee in the rough and there were 12 of us over there trying to find it. I think that is a little unfair.
”It is tough to hit out of, which is okay, but it is a bit too long if we are losing our golf ball.”
Els was happy to get back to even par after going double-bogey, bogey after a birdie on the first hole but rued his poor performance on the greens.
”Well, I had a bit of a tough start so I had to try and get things going from there,” the world number seven said.
”I got it back a bit and was even through the first nine holes.
”I hit a lot of quality shots on the back nine but could not buy a putt.
The 36-year-old remained optimistic for the second round.
”I hit the ball really well today [Thursday] so hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow [Friday]. I have just got to try and get the ball in the hole,” he added. — Reuters