Simpson in charge at Firestone, Tiger lurks

Simpson in charge at Firestone, Tiger lurks

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Mark Lamport-Stokes August 1, 2013

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Webb Simpson of the U.S. watches his tee shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - It was case of love at first sight for Webb Simpson on his debut at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational as he spectacularly charged into a one-shot lead in Thursday's opening round.

While seven-times winner Tiger Woods also made a strong start, firing a four-under-par 66, Simpson seized control of the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event with an eight-birdie 64.

On a breezy day of sunshine and sporadic cloud cover atFirestone Country Club, former U.S. Open champion Simpson was in sizzling form on the greens, totaling only 22 putts to end the round a stroke in front of Swede Henrik Stenson.

Woods, who has triumphed a season-high four times on the 2013 PGA Tour, mixed six birdies with two bogeys to sit a further shot back, level with fellow Americans Ryan Mooreand defending champion Keegan Bradley, and Englishman Chris Wood.

Former world number one Luke Donald of England bogeyed his final hole, the par-four 18th, to card a 67 and end the round alongside Americans Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Rickie Fowler, Bill Haas and Jim Furyk.

Simpson was elated to be the tournament's front-runner after taking full advantage of advice from his experienced caddie on how to play the heavily tree-lined Firestone layout.

"It was a great start," the 27-year-old American told reporters after setting the tone for a low round on a rain-softened layout with four birdies in his first nine holes.

"My caddie has been here so many years and I had to listen to him. He basically showed me where to go yesterday and told me where to hit it, where the lines were, what clubs to hit.

"Today was one of those days where I just saw the lines well, and my speed was really good. You've got to have great speed because there's so much slope in the greens.

"And the better the speed, the bigger the hole," said Simpson, who missed out on making his debut at Firestone last year due to the birth of his daughter Willow.

IMPROVING FORM


Simpson has not triumphed on the PGA Tour since he clinched his maiden major victory at the 2012 U.S. Open but he has been happy with his improving form on the circuit this season.

"It's encouraging and frustrating because I haven't won and yet I'm 17th in FedExCup (standings)," he said. "I feel like I've let a couple of tournaments go that maybe I should have closed out or at least I should have contended more."

Simpson has recorded four top-10s in 18 starts on the 2013 PGA Tour, his best finish a playoff loss to Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell at the RBC Heritage in April.

"If I'm getting better, I'm happy," said Simpson. "And I do feel like I'm getting better, I just don't have the results this year to show it."

Woods has certainly had the results with four PGA Tour wins this season and he swiftly moved into familiar territory at Firestone, covering his back nine in four-under 31 to rocket up the leaderboard.

"I felt pretty good today," said the 14-times major champion. "I feel very good about what I'm doing with basically my whole swing. I hit a lot of good shots. I had a really good feel for the distance today. I thought I putted well."

Woods has won a record seven times at Firestone, and has piled up a staggering 11 top-10 finishes in 13 appearances at the elite event.

"For some reason this golf course, I just see it," said the world number one. "It's just one of those venues. Luckily over the years I've taken advantage of it. I have played well and I've scored well, and I've won my share of tournaments here."

Northern Irish world number three Rory McIlroy returned a roller-coaster 70 while newly crowned British Open champion Phil Mickelson opened with a 72 to sit joint 41st in the 73-man field.

"Some good, some bad," McIlroy said after carding five birdies, three bogeys and a double at the par-four 10th. "I felt like I hit a lot of good shots out there.

"I drove the ball well for the most part, gave myself a lot of chances for birdies, and I just threw a few shots away around the greens, made double at 10 from nowhere. Felt more comfortable with my putting, which was a good sign."

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Julian Linden)

Mentally fatigued Mickelson battles to a 72 at Firestone

Mentally fatigued Mickelson battles to a 72 at Firestone

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Mark Lamport-Stokes August 1, 2013

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Phil Mickelson of the U.S. watches his second shot on the second hole during the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone …


By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Euphoric after winning his fifth major crown at the British Open last month, Phil Mickelson had a tough time mentally re-adapting to the rigors of thePGA Tour at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Thursday.

The American world number two, who by his own admission has been playing some of the best golf of his life in recent weeks, carded a two-over-par 72 in the opening round at Firestone Country Club, a stroke worse than the day's average score.

Mickelson said he had lacked the necessary mental precision and lipped out from short range to bogey consecutive holes, the sixth and seventh, before ending the round in a tie for 41st place in the elite field of 73.

"I've been hitting the ball really well, and today I had a hard time focusing," the American left-hander told reporters after mixing three birdies with five bogeys on a Firestone layout softened by overnight rain.

"Mentally I wasn't sharp. I could tell I was a little bit tired or I just wasn't able to see the shot clearly. I wasn't able to see the putt roll clearly.

"I had trouble seeing the shot chipping, and I just had a hard time mentally visualizing. But I'm not concerned. I mean, my swing and game still feels very sharp."

Mickelson, who won his second PGA Tour title of the year by three shots in the British Open at Muirfield after closing with a brilliant five-under-par 66, aimed to come out guns blazing and refreshed for Friday's second round at Firestone.

"I just need to get a little bit of rest tonight and see if I can come out tomorrow a little bit more focused and start to see a little bit clearer what I'm trying to do," said the Californian, a 42-time winner on the PGA Tour.


"Like I said, I'm not overly concerned. I'm disappointed in the round. I certainly didn't want to shoot over par and leave myself this far back after the first day."

Mickelson trails the pacesetting Webb Simpson by eight shots heading into the second round.

"But my game feels sharp," Mickelson said. "I feel like I'm rolling the ball well. I know I'm swinging the ball well, and tomorrow if I can just mentally see it a little clearer, I should have a good day."

Asked to explain his lipouts for bogey from five feet at the par-four six and par-three seventh, he replied: "I hit them well, I rolled them well, right on my line, but the speed was bad.

"I just didn't quite get into the feel of the putt to be able to make it. I had that theme throughout the day on just about every shot."

Having already claimed five major titles in a Hall of Fame career, Mickelson is well aware of the danger of a possible mental let-down when competing soon after a big win.

"I am aware of it and I'll try to make sure I'm a little bit more rested and sharp heading into the weekend. But it does happen, it's a good problem to have," he smiled.

(This story corrects reference to British Open from this month to last month)

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Julian Linden)

Golf-Teater top in Tahoe under Modified Stableford system

Golf-Teater top in Tahoe under Modified Stableford system

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August 1, 2013



Aug 1 (Reuters) - American Josh Teater did not shoot the lowest score in the first round of the Reno-Tahoe Open on Thursday but finished top of the leaderboard in the PGA Tour's only event using the Modified Stableford scoring system.

Teater, who shot a six-under 66 at Reno's Montreux Golf and Country Club, holds a one point lead over compatriotsJames Driscoll (66) and Gary Woodland (65).

Under the scoring system, points are awarded on each hole for being under par, with birdies earning a player two points and eagles five. A bogey costs a player one point, double bogeys and worse three points. No points are won or lost with par.

While Woodland carded a lower score, Teater's round included an eagle at the par-five eighth, as well as six birdies and a pair of bogeys, adding up to 15 points.

Woodland, chasing his first top 10 finish of the season, posted five birdies on the front nine and closed with two more at 17 and 18 to finish on 14 points alongside Driscoll, who mixed eight birdies with a pair of bogeys.

Playing the back nine first, Australian Greg Chalmers also got his day off to a blazing start with five straight birdies, then picked up two more as well as a bogey to sit a point further back on 13. (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Peter Rutherford)