AKRON, Ohio, (Reuters) – With Tiger Woods struggling, long-hitting American Bubba Watson stole the limelight from the game’s biggest names by surging into a two-shot lead in yesterday’s opening round at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Competing in the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event for the first time, left-hander Watson birdied five of the last eight holes on a hot, humid afternoon to card a spectacular six-under-par 64 at Firestone Country Club.
He ended his round in outrageous fashion, finding the left rough off the 18th tee before hitting a lob wedge over trees to 36 feet and coolly sinking a curling putt from just off the green for a birdie.
Woods, seeking a record eighth win at one of his favourite venues, struggled in every area of his game as he chalked up a six-bogey 74, his worst score at Firestone in 45 rounds.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who could replace Woods as world number one after this week, fired a 66 to lie two strokes off the pace with fellow American Kenny Perry, Australian Adam Scott and U.S. Open winner Graeme McDowell of Britain.
Four more Americans — Chad Campbell, Sean O’Hair, Jeff Overton and Bo Van Pelt — and double U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa opened with matching 67s.
Watson, who clinched his first PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship in June, had never seen the tight, tree-lined Firestone layout before this week.
