Paul Lawrie makes a strong comeback at the Masters Tournament after eight years – Golf News
Paul Lawrie, after a stunning display of eagles and a birdie in the opening round of the Masters Tournament, took the early clubhouse lead on Thursday, April 5, 2012.
Lawrie is participating in the major event for the first time since he last appeared in 2004.
His comeback in the tournament proved to be a strong one, as he never managed to score an eagle or break 70 in his last five appearances.
He started off his round with seven consecutive par shots. A bogey on the eighth hole took him one over par. Yet, he did not lose his confidence and continued displaying a good game on the course.
His continuous efforts paid him off when he succeeded in making two eagles and a birdie between the 13th and 17th hole. His efforts enabled him to reach the top of the leaderboard.
“It’s not too often that I’ve had two eagles, so that was nice. I was disappointed in 18. The greens are in fantastic condition and rolling pretty well,” said the Scot, who has enjoyed a superb start to 2012.
“This course is all about the speed and patience and I struggled with that on the front nine but then I got into it in the back nine”.
After he completed his round, many other players crossed him and then went back or joined him at three-under.
However, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen and Peter Hanson were the only three players to surpass him at the end of the opening round.
Westwood, in his 56th attempt to register his first major victory of the career, carded five-under par 67 to finish atop the leaderboard. The other two tied for the second place after scoring a four-under par each.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, who is looking for his career’s 15th major championship win, faltered on the final two holes by carding two bogeys to finish at equal par.
“It was some of my old stuff from a few years ago - every now and again it pops up,” he said. “I just wanted to keep grinding and I hung in there. I maybe could have shot one or better, but I got a lot out of it”.
He tied for the 29th position at the end of the round at Augusta National Golf Club.
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