Goosen makes positive start at K Club
Retief Goosen looked every inch the defending champion when he started the Smurfit European Open at the K Club in Co Kildare today.
The South African birdied three of his first four holes to move into a share of the lead with former British Open champion Paul Lawrie and Londoner Brian Davis.
Goosen insisted on the eve of the event that what happened at Pinehurst two weeks ago had left no lasting scars.
“I’m fine about it,” he said. “Everybody else seems to be more worried about it than I am. A lot of people have said ’bad luck’, but there’s no bad luck. I just played bad and end of story. Nothing like that is going to bother me.”
And so it seemed as the world number five opened with a birdie at the long 10th, pitched to four feet at the 415-yard next and then picked up another stroke on the 428-yard 13th.
In the group ahead of him Lawrie, Europe’s last winner of a major title six years ago, had four birdie in five holes, but also bogeyed the short 12th.
Darren Clarke, returning after a month out to help his wife Heather in her battle with cancer and heart problems, was level par after four.
Padraig Harrington, a winner in America again on Sunday, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Ryder Cup captains Ian Woosnam and Tom Lehman were among the later starters.
| Related Stories: |
|
