Faldo and Duval suffer
Nick Faldo did not have the same excuse as David Duval today as they both failed to break 80 in the first round of the United States Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Duval’s 83, which left him joint last, came on his return from a break of over six months from golf and he described it as “an enormous victory” simply because he had achieved what he set out to do – namely, enjoy it.
Faldo’s 81 was his worst round – by two – in 18 US Opens dating back to his debut in 1984 and came a week after he topped a qualifying competition for the event.
The 46-year-old could not even use his age as an explanation, for sharing the lead with Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama was 50-year-old American Jay Haas, trying to become the oldest winner of a major title in history.
Haas, nephew of former Masters champion Bob Goalby, and Maruyama both returned four under par rounds of 66 and led by two.
Tiger Woods, playing with Maruyama, had to be content with a 72, while Davis Love had two triple bogeys in a 76 and Ernie Els did well to finish with a 70 after a double bogey at the short 11th, his second hole, and then a bogey on the next.
Welshman Phillip Price, who played alongside Duval, also posted a 70 and with half the field still to finish – Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Justin Rose and Paul Lawrie among them – that was the best of the 19-strong European contingent.
Faldo bogeyed four of the first six holes and after a solitary birdie on the next then had six more bogeys and a double bogey at the 403-yard 15th.
It was not as if there was a strong wind blowing either – it was just a case of a course proving too tough.
Duval actually kicked off with a birdie, but things started to unravel for the 32-year-old, who has fallen from No 1 in the world in 1999 and Open champion three years ago to 434th, when he had to take a penalty drop off a badly hooked drive down the fourth.
He three-putted that for a double bogey, took seven down the 537-yard next and after turning in 40 had a birdie, seven bogeys and a double bogey at the last to end the day 17 strokes behind Haas and Maruyama.
Yet, having decided only last Saturday he felt like making his comeback now, he stated: “I did a lot of things I wanted to do and, most importantly, I enjoyed being out there.
“It goes without saying I’m not tournament ready and add the US Open course in the mix it adds more shots to the score.
“I felt like I conducted myself well, which as you all know is very important to me, and I felt like I hit some really nice shots.
“I found my wife in the crowd a few times and waved. It was just nice – I stand here a blessed man. And I would like to hope that I will do this on a regular basis again.
“I took time off to try to feel like I was ready to play and to be excited to play. Next time I feel like I’m ready to play is when I’ll show up, but I’m going to play here tomorrow first.”
Haas, even though he is now eligible for Seniors Tour golf, is pushing hard for the Ryder Cup this season and it was therefore no great surprise to see him doing well.
“Bob (Goalby) has been my biggest fan and he’s been pumping me up telling me I can do this. I can’t tell you what it would mean.” Especially with his son Bill one of the amateurs taking part.
Lee Westwood, two under at one point, bogeyed the last three holes for a 73 and thought part of the reason may be that pain-killers he had taken to combat a wrist injury suffered in practice were starting to wear off.
Price’s only two bogeys came as a result of three-putting and he was delighted by his start on a course he describes as “perfect for me – it’s not about power.”
Brian Davis also finished three over, while Sergio Garcia, winner of two of his last four events on the US Tour, had a 72 and Paul Casey and Ian Poulter shot 74.
Of the later starters Clarke was level par after six, but Harrington, beaten in a play-off by Garcia on Sunday, and Rose were two over and Lawrie three over.
