SINGAPORE OPEN: World number two Phil Mickelson was pleased with his opening round of 69 at the Singapore Open but insists he can play much better over the next three days.
Mickelson is three shots adrift of overnight leader Ian Poulter who shot an opening 66 and tops the leaderboard ahead of Ernie Els and qualifier Chan Yih-shin of Chinese Taipei.
Dane Anders Hansen, Japan’s Kodai Ichihara and Frenchman Thomas Levet are all in touch with the leader at three-under after opening rounds of 68.
Soren Kjeldsen joins a group including Mickelson following an opening 69.
However, half the field were unable to complete their rounds after a thunderstorm brought heavy rain and a delay of just under three hours.
Of the afternoon starters still on the course when darkness brought an end to the day’s play just before 7pm local time, China’s Liang Wen-chong and Ross McGowan progressed to two under, with Pádraig Harrington level par through 10.
After beating Tiger Woods to win the season-ending Tour Championship last month to reclaim second place in the world rankings, and remaining unbeaten as the US won The Presidents Cup, Mickelson looks to be back to his best following a six-week break.
But the 39-year-old left-hander did not have it all his own way yesterday around the Serapong Course after carding three bogeys.
However, his cause was helped by a chip-in eagle after his seven-iron approach into the 13th took a fortunate bounce, to help eliminate an early bogey after starting on the back nine.
He reached the turn in two under and in contention with the early pacesetters, but scattered two bogeys against two birdies over the front nine, and he sits three shots adrift of clubhouse leader Poulter after a rain-affected first day.
“I played well today and hit a lot of good shots,” Mickelson said.
“The course is in wonderful condition but it is also very difficult with the rough being so thick. The fairways are immaculate and we could lift and clean the ball today which helped getting perfect lies.
“I putted well today and as the week goes on I think I will get better and better as I get accustomed to the speed of the greens and the grass as well as just getting into the competition aspect of it.”
Poulter, meanwhile, embarked on an action-packed two months by taking a one-shot clubhouse lead at the end of the first day.
The flamboyant Englishman showed no signs of rustiness despite heading to Sentosa Golf Club on the back of a six week lay-off, and shipped just a solitary bogey to card a five-under-par 66.
For Poulter, the Singapore Open marks the first tournament in a run of seven back-to-back events in Asia, the Middle-East and South Africa.
“I didn’t know what to expect this week. I have practised pretty hard over the last three weeks trying to get ready for seven weeks on the bounce,” he said.
Poulter is ranked 29th in the Race to Dubai and is eager to boost his earnings while also make an early mark on the Ryder Cup points table, with Singapore kicking off a potentially lucrative run with next week’s new World Golf Championships event in Shanghai and the Hong Kong Open leading up to the season-ending Dubai World Championship in late November.
US TOUR: The first round of the Viking Classic in Madison, Mississippi was postponed yesterday after overnight rain left Annandale Golf Club’s par-72 layout saturated and unplayable.
Thursday’s scheduled start was pushed back three hours as the greenkeeping staff tried to prepare the course but, with an unfavourable weather forecast for the rest of the day, officials abandoned any prospect of play.
Weather-permitting, the opening round will begin at 07.20 local time (13.20 Irish) today, PGA Tour officials said.
Will MacKenzie is defending the title he won last year in a three-way playoff with Brian Gay and Marc Turnesa.
RYDER CUP 2010 : The Celtic Manor course for next year’s Ryder Cup should hold few fears for the US team, American captain Corey Pavin said yesterday.
Pavin will not be urging his players to visit the Welsh course before next October’s match as some of his predecessors have with European venues in the past.
“Celtic Manor is not a course that requires a lot of practice rounds,” Pavin said at at Finca Cortesin during this weeks World Matchplay Championship.
“It’s not that tricky, it’s very straightforward. There would not be a lot to learn out there by playing it 10 times before the match. Three times and you’ll be all right,” he added. “I can’t really expect my players to come out to Europe, go back to play the Tour Championship and then come back out to play the match.”
By contrast Pavin’s counterpart, European captain, Colin Montgomerie will be emailing his potential players next year to encourage them to play in the 2010 Wales Open at Celtic Manor to get a feel for the course.
