Golf Capsules: Shin, Inkster take early lead at British Open
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) — Yani Tseng shot a 4-under 68 in the opening round of the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale on Thursday, and is tied for the lead as she pursues her third major championship.
The rising star from Taiwan shot a bogey-free round that included a birdie and an eagle on the two finishing holes, putting her in a tie for the lead with Australian Katherine Hull.
"I played really, really solid. I hit all greens but one today and I putted pretty well," said Tseng, who already has won the Kraft Nabisco Championship this season to go with the LPGA Championship she won in 2008.
"The last two par-fives were just like long par-fours with the wind, so I stayed relaxed and tried to make birdies," Tseng said. "It was pretty good."
Hull was among the last players on the course and also made an eagle on the 18th hole — in front of nearly deserted grandstands — to join Tseng at 4 under. Hull dropped a stroke at the fourth hole before rattling off three birdies in a four-hole stretch beginning at No. 7.
"I hit a drive and a hybrid onto the last green and holed from 60 feet, a great way to finish," Hull said. "I had a long talk with my caddie last week and unearthed a secret to improve my game. I had become lazy with my routine and the improvement made all the difference."
Anne-Lise Caudal of France took the early lead with her round of 3-under 69, and she was matched later in the day by South Korea's Kim Lang and Sun Young Yoo, along with Brittany Lincicome of the United States.
"I've never played links golf before, only two practice rounds this week," said Caudal, the 2008 Portuguese Open winner. "I played really well today."
Like Caudal, Yang had only one bogey during her round, while Lincicome was in for a much more interesting trip around Royal Birkdale. She dropped three strokes on the first two holes before playing the rest of her round in 6-under par.
"I putted really well after four-putting the first for double-bogey. Afterwards I hit a lot of really long putts, which is unusual for me, but nice," Lincicome said. "Being a long hitter helped today as well, having wedges onto greens instead of mid-irons."
Fellow American Michelle Wie opened with a 2-under 70, as did In-Kyung Kim of South Korea.
"I felt good all the way round today," Wie said. "I hit some good putts, they just didn't go in until at the end."
Julie Inkster opened with a 71, along with Jiyai Shin, the South Korean star who won the Evian Masters in France last weekend. England's Laura Davies shot a level-par 72, LPGA champion Christie Kerr shot 73 and reigning U.S. Open champ Paula Creamer had a 74.
Defending champion Catriona Matthews was at 3-over 75 after the opening round.
"You need to know how to get the ball round this hard golf course in tough conditions," Davies said. "Experience counts for a lot in this sort of championship."
Champions
Vaughan leads U.S. Senior Open at 4-under 66
SAMMAMISH, Wash. (AP) — The fans following Fred Couples and Tom Watson early Thursday morning were sometimes six- and seven-deep, wedging themselves between tree trunks and ducking under limbs.
Very quietly, and without much attention, Bruce Vaughan was the player taking early control of the U.S. Senior Open.
Taking advantage of cool morning conditions and mostly avoiding the canopy of trees engulfing Sahalee Country Club, Vaughan opened with a 4-under 66 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead.
The 2008 Senior British Open champion — his only victory on the Champions Tour — made just two bogeys in a steady round, while favorites such as Couples and Watson were far more shaky.
"It's just the first day. I mean, there is a lot of golf left and a lot of trouble out there for the next three days," Vaughan said.
Trouble seemed to be the story of the day.
Whether it was the firm greens sending irons from the fairway hoping 2 feet in the air, or the sprawling limbs in the sea of cedar, fir and pine trees gobbling up wayward shots, the U.S. Golf Association made certain Sahalee was no easy hike through the woods.
About the only favorable bounce went to Mark Calcavecchia, who glanced his side-hill second shot on No. 18 off a green side tree. Instead of bouncing into trouble, Calcavecchia's ball stopped just short of the green, and he rolled it up to the front pin for birdie.
Otherwise, Sahalee was unrelenting. Only eight players finished under par, just two in the afternoon — Calcavecchia and Bernhard Langer at 69 — after the morning clouds disappeared and the sun made Sahalee even firmer and faster. It was the fewest sub-par scores in the first round since 2003 at Inverness when there were four.
"It seems like the top 100 players in the world were here, rather than a 156 old guys," Calcavecchia said. "This is probably the hardest pin placements I've seen in years. It was tough."
Couples, the hometown favorite playing 20 miles east from where he grew up, nearly saw his round unravel when a blocked tee shot on No. 1 — his 10th hole — plugged in a fern bush at the base of two cedars. After taking an unplayable lie, Couples managed bogey, but made another two holes later to fall to 3 over.
Then came Couples' one run. The 50-year-old star, playing in his first U.S. Senior Open, strung together three straight birdies to salvage an even-par round of 70.
"I think the score I shot is phenomenal," Couples said. "I would have taken 70 before the round started. ... I was very, very mediocre. I don't know what else to tell you. I can tell you I birdied three holes in a row, three good holes.
While Couples was riding a roller coaster of bogeys and birdies, Vaughan was steady. He birdied the 16th and 18th holes — the 18th a brutal, uphill 465-yard par 4, converted from a par 5. Vaughan added birdies at the second, third and sixth holes on his back nine, before bogeying the par-3 ninth, his final hole of the day.
"More shocked probably than anything," Vaughan said. "I did everything you were supposed to do. It was nothing crazy."
Loren Roberts and amateur Tim Jackson, the leader a year ago after two rounds, shot 68s. Tom Lehman, Joe Ozaki and Michael Allen were another stroke back along with Calcavecchia and Langer, the British Senior Open winner Sunday. Ozaki hit a tee shot on the par-5 second hole that traveled 50 yards before finding the limbs of a cedar. He still managed par.
Other favorites were far off the leaderboard. Defending champ Fred Funk shot 76. U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin needed a birdie on his final hole to shoot 72. Jay Haas was 2 under on his first nine, before a trio of bogeys coming home. He had a 70.
"The rough is not brutal, but you almost can't get to the green anyway because there is always a tree in the way," Haas said.
Watson and Couples were the marquee group teeing off before 8 a.m. The 60-year-old Watson said earlier this week he thought there would be a number of high scores during the tournament. But with cool, receptive conditions, Watson was aggressive and found himself in a tie for the lead at 3 under after dropping a downhill birdie putt on the third, his 12th hole, to go with birdies on Nos. 12, 17 and 2.
Watson said the fatigue of traveling eight time zones from the Senior British Open to the West Coast finally caught up with him, though. He made bogeys with poor iron shots at Nos. 6, 8 and 9 to close his round of 70.
"I'm tired and hurting," Watson said. "When you wake up at 1 o'clock in the morning and can't go back to sleep, it's tough to play."
Notebook: Last-second trip worth it for Vaccaro
SAMMAMISH, Wash. (AP) — Walking up the final hole at Sahalee Country Club on Thursday in the U.S. Senior Open, John Vaccaro didn't really care that he was 10-over par, 15 strokes behind the leader after 18 holes.
What mattered was he was inside the ropes soaking in the polite applause.
"It's a lifetime achievement," Vaccaro said. "If I had to rent a jet I would be here."
His achievement was getting here. Two alternates had to pass up the spot before he got the call, Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in his office in Albany, N.Y. He had to get to Seattle the next morning for an 8:45 a.m. tee time.
"I'm 100 percent all the way," Vaccaro said. "I got to make my best effort to get my butt out there. How many people get to play in this thing? It's such an honor."
He made it to the airport just in time to catch the last flight out, but the plane was delayed for two hours. He reached Chicago at 8:15 p.m., five minutes before his scheduled connection. Fortunately, that was delayed, too.
He arrived in Seattle at 1:30 a.m. and got to his hotel at 3 a.m., but never slept.
During the same time, his younger brother, Joe, was making his way from Sarasota, Fla., to Seattle to serve as his caddie.
"He called me and said, 'You going?' I said, 'Yes, I am.' It's emotional, I tell you," said Joe, eyes tearing up. "This is big for us. We've dreamed about this."
John Vaccaro had to use his 30-year-old Ping irons stored in his garage because his regular clubs are noncompliant. He couldn't remember the last time he played with the clubs.
He also had never played Sahalee before and had no practice on it. The only thing he could do "just to hit some balls on the range to see how far I could hit the old clubs — and which direction."
"You're coming to a USGA event and you're saying, 'I'm pulling an old set out of the garage.' That's the way it was," Joe Vaccaro said.
He was paired with Bruce Vaughn, the first-round leader at 4-under 66.
John started fine, with a birdie on his second hole and was even par after five. Then a double-bogey led to his decline. He finished with an 80 and is highly unlikely to make the cut.
"I'm going to soak it all in (Friday)," John Vaccaro added. "I m going to enjoy the heck out of it. I don't care if I shoot 90 or 70. I just going do my best, hit some good shots and have fun."
JACKSON AGAIN: For the second year in a row, amateur Tim Jackson found himself in the hunt after day one of the U.S. Senior Open. Jackson fired a 2-under 68, leaving him two shots behind first-day leader Bruce Vaughn.
"My whole golf schedule this year was set around this one week," Jackson said. "So I know it's just another event for these guys but for me, this is a big deal for me."
Jackson kept his ball out of trouble off the tee on the tree-lined course and put himself in good positions most of the day. Jackson only missed one fairway, the par-4 12th hole, when his drive leaked into the trees.
"We didn't get a signal so I hit a provisional and luckily it was just 2 feet clear of one of those big trees and I could just kind of hit a 4-iron and bleed it down the fairway, kind of down there to get a good number for a wedge," Jackson said.
He made the putt to save his par and keep him at 2 under.
"It's really the first good putt I hit all day," Jackson said. "My speed was sort of off. I was giving the greens a little more credit as far as the speed goes, but that was a big pick me up for sure."
The Germantown, Tenn., player played in just two amateur events leading up to his second go at the Senior Open.
A year ago, with his son on the bag, Jackson was the surprise co-leader after opening with a 66 at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Ind. He followed it up with a 67 to take the outright lead into the weekend.
"Having some experience before, it doesn't change anything," Jackson said. "I'll be nervous. I'll be antsy and that's the way it is."
CHIP SHOTS: Tom Kite, who shot a 2-over 72, had a flash of brilliance over two holes. He made a 25-foot putt from off the green for par on No. 6, then holed out from 141 yards on the seventh for an eagle. ... South Smith withdrew because of a back injury. He was 9 over after 10 holes. ... Pat Diesu had the worst round of the day, a 21-over 91.
PGA
With a 3rd heart, Compton shares Greenbrier lead
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Erik Compton is a walking billboard for organ donation and sheer determination.
He's also at the top of the Greenbrier Classic leaderboard.
Playing on a late sponsor exemption, the 30-year-old double heart transplant recipient shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday to share the first-round lead with rookie Matt Every in the inaugural tournament.
Compton spent eight straight days doing yard work at home in Miami before he got the call Saturday to play in the tournament. He's making the most of his late invite, overcoming a slow start with nine birdies on the Old White course.
"You know, some guys miss six, seven cuts in a row and then win," Compton said. "I know I'm a good player, and I have a lot of the adversity in front of me with the game and health. But I always feel like if I stick in there and keep trying, something eventually good is going to happen."
George McNeill, Pat Perez and Jeff Overton opened with 64s.
Nearly all of the field hadn't played the course before this week, but it wasn't a detriment — 24 players were at 4 under or better.
While more than half of the field is in jeopardy of missing the FedExCup playoffs and others are trying to secure spots in next month's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Compton is taking it week by week, looking to solidify a future either on the PGA Tour or the Nationwide circuit.
A few years ago, it wasn't looking so bright.
Compton was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy at age 9. The disease inflames the heart and leaves it unable to pump as hard as it needs to. His first transplant came three years later and another occurred in 2008.
He didn't think he'd play golf again and even sold his equipment after the second transplant. But his health improved quickly and he returned to the game within weeks.
This season he's made four cuts in seven starts.
In the past he might have denied that his double transplants would have been a bigger deal than shooting a low score, but not now.
"It affects so many people," Compton said.
Compton's stamina is good, though he admits it may not be up to the level of other players. That's in part due to the hilly terrain and expansive layout of some courses.
Fortunately for him, Old White is relatively flat.
"My health is great. I keep a good eye on it," Compton said. "I'm almost like a doctor now myself because I've been through so much and being able to manage medications and take it on the road."
Good friend Victor Billskoog, who's carrying Compton's bag this week for the first time, is hoping to attend the PGA Tour's qualifying school and uses Compton as an inspiration.
"He has such a great story coming from the depths that he came from," Billskoog said. "When I get down on myself and think about how hard I'm having it, I think about Erik and his remarkable story."
An accurate driver, Compton showed a good all-around game Thursday, reaching 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation. He needed just 26 putts.
Things didn't start out so good.
Compton bogeyed two of the first three holes, then rattled off seven birdies over a nine-hole stretch. He also birdied the par-4 14th and his chip from behind the green to the par-5 17th hit the flag, leaving him with another short birdie.
"I'm just trying to enjoy the opportunity," Compton said. "It's just the first round. I've played this sport long enough to know that (Friday) I tee off at 2 o'clock and might be seven back. So I'm just trying to be patient."
Compton's previous best round this year was 4-under 67 in February at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. His best finish was a tie for 30th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He qualified for the U.S. Open in June after a 36-hole sectional that included a playoff. He shot 77-81 in the Open and missed the cut.
After missing the cut two weeks ago at the Reno-Tahoe Open, Compton went back to his new home for some serious yard work, planting palm, oak and Italian Cypress trees and redoing the lawn.
"I've done flowers before, but nothing will grow in 150-degree weather in Miami," Compton said.
After more than a week of getting his hands dirty, he got the call to play golf again — and has come to appreciate the beauty of Old White, which has undergone some tweaking and considerable floral touch ups in preparation for the tournament.
"This place is immaculate," Compton said. "That why it's so neat to see the landscaping here. As a golfer, you like to have your yard look nice."
Every, starting on the back nine, eagled the par-5 12th and had three straight birdies to make the turn at 6 under. He added a birdie at the par-4 sixth hole.
The 26-year-old Every's best finish is eighth at the Phoenix Open in late February. He's played in just 11 tournaments in the last five months after breaking his left pinky finger.
"My game's coming around," said Every, recently arrested in Iowa and charged with possession of a controlled substance. He has denied possessing marijuana.
Overton, seeking his fifth top-10 finish this season, had the chance to tie for the lead but made bogey on the par-3 18th after his tee shot flew the green.
Brendon de Jonge, Charles Howell III, Aron Price, Matt Bettencourt and John Rollins shot 65s. Jim Furyk, who's fifth in the FedExCup points standings and can jump past Ernie Els into the top spot with a second place or better finish, had a 68.
Carl Pettersson, winner of the Canadian Open last week, had a 71.
Afternoon play was stopped for 1 hour, 33 minutes due to storms.
-- John Raby
PGA European
David Howell takes first-round lead at Irish Open
KILLARNEY, Ireland (AP) — England's David Howell showed a long overdue return to form as he shot a 7-under 64 to take the first-round lead at the Irish Open on Thursday.
The 35-year-old former Ryder Cup player has slumped to 479th in the world after reaching No. 9 in 2006, when he won the PGA Championship. In the past year he has considered retirement after working as a TV commentator during major tournaments for which he had not qualified.
Howell managed five birdies and an eagle at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Australia's Richard Green and Ireland's Damien McGrane.
"I never wanted to give up," said Howell, "but it crossed my mind that if I carried on playing as I did last year I wouldn't have a career to be worried about anyway.
"As hard as it was not playing in the majors, when I got into my head the fact that I had dropped off that level, the next best thing was to sit and talk about golf on TV."
Howell arrived in Ireland with 10 missed cuts on his 2010 record and no finish higher than 14th at The Open de Espana in April. But if he felt like a stranger being back at the top of the leaderboard, it was a different emotion to the players sharing second place.
They both felt like they were in familiar surroundings.
McGrane, once a professional shop pro and with only one European win in his career, could have been overawed when the draw paired him with two recent Irish major winners. But where U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell could only manage a 1-under 71 and Padraig Harrington struggled to a 78, McGrane lifted his game with five birdies during a bogey-free 66.
"I would sooner play with friends of mine like Padraig. Some people are tough to play with but he isn't, and there was a lot of banter between us," McGrane said.
Green liked Killarney's relatively short 7,161-yard layout, saying it suited his game more than many modern tournament venues.
"It's more like Huntingdale in Melbourne, where I learned to play the game as a youngster," he said. Killarney is an old-school golf course and I felt comfortable out there. I am a traditionalist I am not one of the longer hitters and over the years on the European Tour courses have just got longer and longer.
"We don't play many like this on the European Tour. In fact, I would say it was only the second that I have felt comfortable on this year following the Emirates course in Dubai."
For less than half an hour, McGrane and Green were joined at 6 under by England's Robert Rock, but he was disqualified for transposing two scores in his 65.
It was another Irish disappointment for the 33-year-old Rock, who last year lost a play off for the Irish Open title to the then-amateur Shane Lowry.
-- Graham Otway
Rock disqualified after Irish Open first round
KILLARNEY, Ireland (AP) — Robert Rock of England has been disqualified from the Irish Open for making a mistake on his scorecard after shooting a 6-under 65 in the first round.
Checking through his card after the round Thursday, tournament officials discovered that Rock had transposed his scores on the 14th and 15th holes at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.
He had signed for a 4 and a 3 when he had taken a 3 and a 4.
Tournament director David Probyn said that although the total was right "the hole scores he signed for were wrong so he was disqualified."
In the 2009 Irish Open at County Louth, the 33-year-old Rock reached a playoff only to lose to Irish amateur Shane Lowry.
