Bubba's boo-boo
Big-hitting American Bubba Watson has discovered one of the harsh realities of life as a US PGA Tour player – no clubs, no play.
The 27-year-old rookie was looking forward to the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, but pulled out before the first round of th event because his caddie, who was looking after his clubs overnight, was unable to get to the course on time.
France’s Ryder Cup star Thomas Levet was another who did not tee off, but in his case it was a ribcage injury which kept the former British Masters champion on the sidelines.
There were no such problems for young Australian Adam Scott, who four days after finishing an unexpected third in the Wachovia Championship began with a five-under-par 65 to share the lead with American Steve Lowery.
World number nine Scott was happily settling for fourth place on Sunday when South African Retief Goosen crashed to a quintuple bogey nine on the final hole at Quail Hollow.
Scott is making his first trip to this week’s tournament.
“I made sure I got here this year,” he said. “I had seen Mr Nelson at the Masters for the last five years and he always asked me.
“I always said I’d try and I never made it. It’s not (because of) guilt that I’m here, but certainly out of respect for him.”
His 65 came on the 7,052-yard TPC course, while Lowery shot his across the street on the easier 6,871-yard Cottonwood Valley venue. They switch for the second round.
Ernie Els had a 68 and Luke Donald, 10th in the world, opened with a 69 at TPC a week after pulling out complaining of back pains.
Vijay Singh, who slumped to an 81 on Sunday, started his round at Cottonwood with a double bogey and a bogey, but came back for a level-par 70, the same as last week’s winner Jim Furyk and Londoner Brian Davis.
Justin Rose stood one stroke further back, but Sergio Garcia and Greg Owen slumped to rounds of 75 – Garcia’s second in a row.
