Tiger up front; Casas trails by 5 strokes
March 2, 2001 | 12:00am
In probably his most impressive start in a tough, star-studded international competition, Cassius Casas fired a three-under par 69 yesterday to trail world No. 1 Tiger Woods and Denmarks Thomas Bjorn by five strokes in the rich Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates.
Three birdies in the last six holes turned what had appeared to be a shaky windup into an explosive finish as the top Filipino shotmaker recovered from a double-bogey mishap on the par 4 No. 12 to find himself tied for 16th place.
Casas, who missed the cut in last weeks Singapore Masters, rammed down back-to-back birdies from No. 5, got slowed down by a bogey on the seventh but fought back with another birdie on the par 5 10th. But that six on No. 12 slowed down the dusky Casas, who birdied Nos. 13, 16 and 17 with remarkable resolve.
He emerged the top Asian after 18 holes of the $1.5-million event which finally got underway after a two-hour fog delay with Woods, hardpressed to score his first victory this year after a run of frustrating campaigns, going to work early by shooting a 64.
Woods and Bjorn shared the early first-round lead by shooting eight-under-par cards on a still, warm day on the Arabian peninsula.
The lush fairways, true-rolling greens and the dry desert air left the 7,127-yard Majlis Course ripe for picking by the two Ryder Cup players, who both had bogey-free rounds.
Woods went 8-under on the final hole, dropping a 20-foot (6-meter) putt for a birdie followed by a clinched right fist and a crowd-waving stroll to the hole.
Little-known Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara was 8-under after 17 holes but landed his second shot in a palm tree and closed with a double bogey. This is Laras first full-time year on the European Tour and he has career earning of only 20,000 pounds ($30,000).
He finished with 6-under 66 to tie Irelands Padraig Harrington.
"I was a little bit nervous because I wanted to bite Tiger for the first time - or for one time," said the 23-year-old Spaniard.
"Its not the first time Ive landed in a palm, but the most important time. Its the most important double-bogey of my short European career."
Woods had a horse named for him on Wednesday - "Dubai Tiger" - by the worlds richest thoroughbred owner, Dubai Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The early lead could help Woods end his so-called slump. He is winless this season in five tournament in the United States and has not finished in the top three.
"They dont understand the game if they think its a slump," said Woods, who said his stroke average was identical to last years. Sure, some competitors are 5 yards (meters) longer off the tee and maybe some are no longer intimiated.
But Woods put it off to a lack of breaks, which he said he had last season, recounting how he "cold-cocked a kid in Canada and made birdie on the hole."
"Its been a pretty good season so far," he said. "I feel like Im close. Ive given myself chances. Sometimes the breaks go your way, sometimes they dont."
Three birdies in the last six holes turned what had appeared to be a shaky windup into an explosive finish as the top Filipino shotmaker recovered from a double-bogey mishap on the par 4 No. 12 to find himself tied for 16th place.
Casas, who missed the cut in last weeks Singapore Masters, rammed down back-to-back birdies from No. 5, got slowed down by a bogey on the seventh but fought back with another birdie on the par 5 10th. But that six on No. 12 slowed down the dusky Casas, who birdied Nos. 13, 16 and 17 with remarkable resolve.
He emerged the top Asian after 18 holes of the $1.5-million event which finally got underway after a two-hour fog delay with Woods, hardpressed to score his first victory this year after a run of frustrating campaigns, going to work early by shooting a 64.
Woods and Bjorn shared the early first-round lead by shooting eight-under-par cards on a still, warm day on the Arabian peninsula.
The lush fairways, true-rolling greens and the dry desert air left the 7,127-yard Majlis Course ripe for picking by the two Ryder Cup players, who both had bogey-free rounds.
Woods went 8-under on the final hole, dropping a 20-foot (6-meter) putt for a birdie followed by a clinched right fist and a crowd-waving stroll to the hole.
Little-known Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara was 8-under after 17 holes but landed his second shot in a palm tree and closed with a double bogey. This is Laras first full-time year on the European Tour and he has career earning of only 20,000 pounds ($30,000).
He finished with 6-under 66 to tie Irelands Padraig Harrington.
"I was a little bit nervous because I wanted to bite Tiger for the first time - or for one time," said the 23-year-old Spaniard.
"Its not the first time Ive landed in a palm, but the most important time. Its the most important double-bogey of my short European career."
Woods had a horse named for him on Wednesday - "Dubai Tiger" - by the worlds richest thoroughbred owner, Dubai Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The early lead could help Woods end his so-called slump. He is winless this season in five tournament in the United States and has not finished in the top three.
"They dont understand the game if they think its a slump," said Woods, who said his stroke average was identical to last years. Sure, some competitors are 5 yards (meters) longer off the tee and maybe some are no longer intimiated.
But Woods put it off to a lack of breaks, which he said he had last season, recounting how he "cold-cocked a kid in Canada and made birdie on the hole."
"Its been a pretty good season so far," he said. "I feel like Im close. Ive given myself chances. Sometimes the breaks go your way, sometimes they dont."
BrandSpace Articles
<
>
- Latest
- Trending
Trending
Latest
Trending
Latest
Recommended
November 2, 2024 - 12:00am