Appleby sets the pace
TORONTO: Australian Stuart Appleby fired a seven-under 63 to take the first round lead at the Byron Nelson Championship on Thursday, one-shot clear of South Africa's Ernie Els and Americans John Daly and Brett Wetterich.
Winner of the season-opening Mercedes championships in January, Appleby made a near perfect start to the US$6.2mil tournament, mixing eight birdies with a single bogey at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas in Irving, Texas to lead a field including the top five players in the world.
Following his victory in Hawaii Appleby returned home to Australia for the birth of his first child but has yet to recapture his brilliant early season form having missed the cut in two of his last three events.
“I'm probably three or four tournaments down in my schedule over this year, and that always happens when you have a new addition,” Appleby said. “I don't sit out on the course and wish I was home being a father.
“When I'm out on the course, I'm out on the course.
“I played okay last week, didn't really seem to get much out of my golf and I didn't putt very well.
“I putted quite poorly, but today I managed to aim the putter in a better direction than what I was aiming it all askew last week.”
World number three Els, playing his first US PGA event since his poor showing at the Masters, was in stunning form on his return to America, carding a bogey free six-under 64.
While the smooth-swinging Els has managed three international wins this season he has not been able to translate that success on to the PGA Tour where he is still without a victory.
Following a disappointing 47th place at Augusta the big South African jetted off to China where he quickly regained his confidence by romping to a 13-stroke win at the Asian Open.
“I hit a lot of balls in Beijing, and yes, that weekend I started hitting the ball better and things started coming around,” said Els. “Obviously at Shanghai I was surprised as you guys to win by 13.
“I'm working on the right stuff, I've just got to keep doing that, and just keep grinding.
“I've just got to stay sharp, yeah. I'm feeling good.
“I want to play better over here. I haven't done well here in March the last time I was here, so obviously I want to play better.”
Crowd favourite Daly was also set to sign for a flawless round until a bogey at the par four 18th resulted in his only blemish on an otherwise error-free performance.
World number one Tiger Woods, playing in just his second event since winning his fourth US Masters, battled to a one-under 69.
Woods, who needs a good result to stop Fijian Vijay Singh from reclaiming top spot in the rankings, had a quiet round as he mixed an eagle with a single birdie and two bogeys.
World number four Phil Mickelson also carded a 69 after an uneventful round of one birdie and 17 pars.
Vijay, winner of two of the last three PGA Tour events, opened with a two-under 68 in a rollercoaster round including five bogeys and seven birdies. – Reuters
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