2010 Viking Classic - first round: Six players surge to early lead
The first round of 2010 Viking Classic has ended with some stunning results at the Annandale Golf course in Madison. Six players have surged to an early lead by striking 6-under 66.
Brendon de Jonge, Arjun Atwal, Bill Lunde, Ken Duke, Brett Quigley and Bill Haas were the golfers who took the advantage of some early pleasant weather.
According to Atwal, he is used to wet grass on the greens and it was seldom when there was no rain during the tournament. Having an edge of comfort, Atwal made maximum use of the conditions and marched up on the leader board. He termed the course perfect
and firm so he faced no trouble in handling the ball. Arjun Atwal, who hails from Indian Punjab, is the first Indian to play in the PGA tour. Five weeks back, he had taken the midway lead at the Wyndham Championship and later had surged to victory with a
score of 20 under.
Although, Hass, another player in the lead was seen in constant pressure but he managed to direct the pressure in the positive side. Haas said, "I think the guys that are shooting well today are probably...when they hit a good putt, they seem to go in.”
The greens turned hard and fast after the rain and it became increasingly difficult for the players to roll the ball. Hass told the reporters that despite the rain, the players were trying to produce some low scores and it would only be possible if they
avoid missing the fairway. However, he predicted that low scoring will be extremely difficult later in the day.
Brendon de Jonge, who teed off despite heavy rain fall also managed to join the first group and made Hass’s prediction go false. De Jonge carded six birdies and aced the par-5 seventh hole to offset two early bogeys, thus making his way to six under. Like
Hass, De Jonge was also disturbed by the torrential winds and he claimed that it got trickier on the field especially on the front nine as the roughs were comparatively elevated over there.
Meanwhile, Brett Quigley, one of the six lead players, is currently 152nd on the money list. Therefore, he would be looking for an opportunity that can earn him a PGA exemption for 2011. The US$ 3.6 million worth of tournament's prize money also includes
US$ 648,000 to the winner. With six birdies in the closing eight holes, Quigley has matched his lowest score of the year and if he continues with the same pace, he will 'definitely' get his goal.
So much for the first group, Nathan Green, Jeff Quinney, Dean Wilson and Charlie Wi posted 67 to take the second place on the first day leader board. They were followed by seven other players at 68 which also included David Duval and Sean O'Hair. Duval
has posted 13 victories on the PGA Tour but he is winless since the 2001 British Open.
Duval stated, “I feel like I'm playing well enough to win again...Just a matter of putting all those little pieces together that I failed to do so far."
Moreover, it seems like history may repeat itself again as in 2009 also, the tournament got cancelled at the same time owing to heavy rains, wind as well as some warm and dry weather. Even then, the greens were left firm and fast which ultimately resulted
in few low scores. At present, weather forecasts are predicting three more days of heavy rain fall which will make the play more difficult.
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