Lee Westwood pulls in the lowest career score in the opening round of Thailand Golf Championship
Lee Westwood, unlike his compatriots on the European Tour, knows his way around the wind Asian courses better than anyone. With Thailand as his favourite hunting ground, the burly Englishman carded his lowest career score of 12-under, 60 to surge to the
top of the leaderboard in the first round of this week’s Thailand Golf Championship at the scenic Amata Spring Country Club. He finished five strokes better than another anomaly of the opening round, John Daly, who shot a blistering seven-under, 65, four shots
better than the nearest contenders.
"I've never shot a 60 before," Westwood said. "A couple of 61s in Germany. Billy (Foster, Westwood's caddie) said my 62 two weeks ago at the Nedbank (Challenge) was as good a round as he's ever seen but he said today was better."
Posting a flawless first round, the world number three reached the turn with a 29 and went over to close the first 18-hole stretch with ten birdies and a blistering eagle. Westwood later revealed that after pulling in seven-under, he had his sight set on
an unprecedented 59 which he missed by one shot.
"I gave myself a few chances. Left one short on the hole on 11 and one short on 14. Had a good chance on 16 as well.” he added.
Long-hitting Daly, who withdrew from the first round of Australian Open last month, after consecutive bad shots, surged to the top with an amazing aplomb and is one shot better than the group of players tied for the third shot including Gregory Bourdy of
France and Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand. Daly did not miss the chance to commend Westwood for his stunning effort.
Daly said. "My hat that I'm not wearing is off to him because that was just an awesome round of golf he played."
45-year-old Daly carded no fewer than five birdies topping them with an eagle at par-five, 11th. Bourdy and Wiratchant carded rounds of 68 in the closing event on the Asian Tour as the players on the tour wrestle to retain their cards for the
next year.
Schwartzel, in continuation with his consistent performance, pulled in a round of three-under, 69 on the first day to stay in contention for the top slot. South African has travelled all the way to the Asian country in search of a victory he has been waiting
for since his stunning Masters victory earlier in the year. Some of the top ranking players on the Asian Tour as well as the European Tour are wrestling their way up in the European Tour co-sanctioned event.
Second round of the championship is underway, while Westwood still holding comfortably to his overnight lead. Players in contention will have to pull in some amazing performances to avoid Westwood walk away with a wire-to-wire victory.
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