ID :
39729
Fri, 01/09/2009 - 18:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39729
The shortlink copeid
Ogilvy runs hot in Hawaii
Geoff Ogilvy finally cracked the Kapalua code to grab the first-round lead at the $US5.6 million Mercedes-Benz Championship on Thursday.
Ogilvy, coming off his maiden Australian victory at the PGA Championship last month, continued his stellar form with six birdies in a stiff breeze at the Kapalua Plantation course.
"I was playing well before Christmas, so it's not amazingly surprising I'm playing well now," he said after posting a bogey-free six-under-par 67 for a one-stroke lead over South African Ernie Els and Americans Kenny Perry and Johnson Wagner.
Adam Scott, the only other Australian in the 33-man field at the US PGA Tour's season opener, bogeyed the last after pulling his second shot into a hazard, carding a slightly disappointing 73.
Ogilvy, who averaged a mediocre 73.9 strokes per round in his previous two appearances, arrived on Maui feeling sharp after taking barely a week off over Christmas.
Apart from a good par save at the par-five 18th, where he hooked a three-iron into a hazard before getting up-and-down from 75 metres, the 2006 US Open champion was never in danger of dropping a shot, and only one of his birdies came from outside four metres.
"I didn't do anything amazing but I didn't do anything badly," he said. "I haven't shot many good rounds on this course, so maybe that's a surprise, but the fact I'm playing okay is not."
Ogilvy speculated that lack of course knowledge was the reason for his mediocre scores in his previous appearances.
"The extreme conditions take a bit to get used to," he said, referring to the hilly course and the invariably strong winds.
"I found it incredibly difficult putting on these greens (in the past).
"There are some frightening greens when you first come. I guess a bit of experience allows you to have the imagination you need."
Scott, meanwhile, safely completed his first competitive round since dislocating his right kneecap last month.
He was uncomfortable playing from downhill lies, but was pleasantly surprised overall by how well he felt tracking around a course better suited to mountain goats.
"It felt good," he said. "I thought I'd be struggling to get it around but I feel I could keep walking now. Maybe all the work we've done is coming good.
"I didn't putt that great today and then I hit that shocker on the last."
Ogilvy, coming off his maiden Australian victory at the PGA Championship last month, continued his stellar form with six birdies in a stiff breeze at the Kapalua Plantation course.
"I was playing well before Christmas, so it's not amazingly surprising I'm playing well now," he said after posting a bogey-free six-under-par 67 for a one-stroke lead over South African Ernie Els and Americans Kenny Perry and Johnson Wagner.
Adam Scott, the only other Australian in the 33-man field at the US PGA Tour's season opener, bogeyed the last after pulling his second shot into a hazard, carding a slightly disappointing 73.
Ogilvy, who averaged a mediocre 73.9 strokes per round in his previous two appearances, arrived on Maui feeling sharp after taking barely a week off over Christmas.
Apart from a good par save at the par-five 18th, where he hooked a three-iron into a hazard before getting up-and-down from 75 metres, the 2006 US Open champion was never in danger of dropping a shot, and only one of his birdies came from outside four metres.
"I didn't do anything amazing but I didn't do anything badly," he said. "I haven't shot many good rounds on this course, so maybe that's a surprise, but the fact I'm playing okay is not."
Ogilvy speculated that lack of course knowledge was the reason for his mediocre scores in his previous appearances.
"The extreme conditions take a bit to get used to," he said, referring to the hilly course and the invariably strong winds.
"I found it incredibly difficult putting on these greens (in the past).
"There are some frightening greens when you first come. I guess a bit of experience allows you to have the imagination you need."
Scott, meanwhile, safely completed his first competitive round since dislocating his right kneecap last month.
He was uncomfortable playing from downhill lies, but was pleasantly surprised overall by how well he felt tracking around a course better suited to mountain goats.
"It felt good," he said. "I thought I'd be struggling to get it around but I feel I could keep walking now. Maybe all the work we've done is coming good.
"I didn't putt that great today and then I hit that shocker on the last."
