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Wednesday July 15, 2009

Woods pairs up with teen Ishikawa in opening round

TIGER Woods will play alongside rising Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and England’s Lee Westwood when the British Open gets underway here tomorrow.

The world number one, in search of his fourth Open title and 15th major in all, tees off with the Japanese media out in force to tail the 17-year-old Ishikawa, a massive gallery was assured.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, seeking to become the first player in over 50 years to win a hat-trick of Open titles, features in the afternoon, in the company of former US Open winners Jim Furyk of the United States and Geoff Ogilvy of Australia.

In other standout groupings in Monday’s draw, back-to-back European Tour winner at the French and Scottish Opens Martin Kaymer of Germany sets off alongside last month’s US Open winner Lucas Glover and former Open champion Ernie Els, while young guns Rory McIlroy and Anthony Kim are paired together, South Africa’s Retief Goosen making up the threesome.

Returning to the Open after a year’s absence, three-times former winner Nick Faldo is listed as a Sir following his recent elevation and he will partner Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark and Brian Gay of the United States.

Woods, who is without a major title to his name for the first time since 2005, was out early again on Monday to play a second practice round on a course he is tackling for the first time.

Shadow play: Tiger Woods lines up his putt during a practice round on Monday, ahead of the 138th British Open tomorrow. — AFP

The last time the world’s oldest golfing tournament was held over the picturesque southwest Scotland links was in 1994 when Zimbabwean Nick Price finished strongly to pip Jesper Parnevik of Sweden.

That was one year before Woods’ first British Open, the 1995 tournament at St Andrews which he played as an amateur and finished in a tie for 68th place.

The American completed his round and voiced the opinion that Turnberry was “a lot more difficult than people are letting on.”

“You’ve just got to do your homework,” he added.

Turnberry, not being long by modern standards, but deadly in the long rough for those who miss the fairway off the tee, comparisons were already being made with Hoylake, near Liverpool, in 2006 when Woods plotted his way around the course perfectly for his third Open title.

On that occasion, the American used his driver only once throughout the four rounds opting to hit mainly two- and three-irons off the tee.

“I’ve got the driver in (his bag), but I don’t know how it’s going to be used,” said Woods in an indication that he is keeping his strategy options open. — AFP

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