AUSSIE golfer Adam Scott is sitting nicely sharing second place just two strokes behind leader Bubba Watson after the first round of the $A9.3 million World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.
With his notoriously scratchy putting for once holding firm, Scott hit a four under par 66 in ideal conditions at Firestone to be tied for second with Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry and Northern Ireland’s US Open winner Graeme McDowell.
The big Queenslander was 4 under after 10 holes and parred the remaining holes.
“I’m really pleased with today, no bogeys, because it’s certainly been a while for me since I had a round like that,” Scott said.
The reigning Australian Open champion switched to the cross-handed putting method the week after the US Open in June and managed to avoid any nasty three putts in Ohio.
“I’ve really struggled confidence-wise with the putting but the little bit of work I’ve done since the (British) Open has paid off I think,” he said.
Whilst Mickelson was one off the top of the leaderboard current World No I Tiger Woods was at the other end after a shocker – a 74, his highest score at Firestone in 45 rounds.
With Woods at T70 it could be Mickelson’s best chance yet to take the World Number 1 ranking.
“The only thing I did good is I kept my patience, grinded all day and that was the best I could have done,” Woods, who has won seven times at Firestone, said
“It’s frustrating, because I warmed up well, my practice sessions at home were good and today was not indicative of how I’ve been playing.”
Jason Day was next best placed Australian with a one under 69, whilst Geoff Ogilvy, who can’t seem to take a trick, hit a 71, Marcus Fraser had a 72 and Stuart Appleby languished on 74 – bitten by the Golfing gods after his historic final round 59 at last week’s Greenbrier Classic.
Ogilvy was looking at his score card and wondering why the numbers weren’t better.
“Most parts of my game seem pretty good but I don’t seem to have very good scores,” he said. “It seems (my game) is better than my scores but you don’t want to hear that.”
Robert Allenby missed the tournament due to a fishing accident in the Bahamas. I wish I could say that.
The event is being telecast free to air on Ten’s ONE HD
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