I've been writing a lot about Charl Schwartzel early in this 2011 season, after his sensational South African swing culminating in his win last week in Joburg and earlier this morning he continued his great play with a -8 64 to take the first round lead at this Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
During that swing and including today he is only- 69 for his last 17 rounds !!! Obviously the world's hottest golfer right now and he thinks he is having trouble with his swing !!
“I've been struggling with my game, with my swing, for a while. Around a golf course like this, it's not best thing to be doing that.
“It just worked well today - drove the ball well and gave myself lots of opportunities and converted most of my chances, just a really solid round.”
He is #23 in the OWGR right now....“I feel I'm a good enough player to be in the top ten in the world. I don't like to think too far ahead, sort of play with each week what it gives you.
Padraig Harrington is second at -7 65 and he has a new putting practice routine where he makes 3 practice putts over the top of the ball !! "One thing showed up in the States last year. I was about 156th in every putting category, so something needed to be done."
He hasn't won on tour since the 2008 PGA
Graeme McDowell is still red hot and he showed it by making birdie on his last 5 holes to come home in 30 for a -6 66, good for 3rd along with Niclas Fasth and Alex Noren, both Swedes..
Defending champ Martin Kaymer -5 67 and Lee Westwood is at -3 69.. Phil Mickelson is at -1 71 playing in the middle East for the first time.
Figure this one out.. World #1 Lee Westwood confirmed that he will not be playing the Players Championship in Florida in May because of US PGA Tour restrictions placed on him as a non-member. More on that later.
McDowell held his breath because he had to have a ruling from the referee after his round, but Andy McPhee ruled his ball had oscillated but not moved as he addressed it before his pitch to the last.
1 SCHWARTZEL, Charl -8 18 -8 64 - - - 64
2 HARRINGTON, Padraig* -7 18 -7 65 - - - 65
T3 NOREN, Alexander* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T3 MCDOWELL, Graeme -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T3 FASTH, Niclas* -6 18 -6 66 - - - 66
T6 KAYMER, Martin* -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T6 WILLETT, Danny -5 18 -5 67 - - - 67
T8 BOYD, Gary* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T8 EDFORS, Johan -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T8 HANSEN, Anders* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T8 GARRIDO, Ignacio* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T8 RUMFORD, Brett -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T8 COLES, Robert* -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T8 GREEN, Richard -4 18 -4 68 - - - 68
T15 WESTWOOD, Lee* -3 18 -3 69 - - - 69
PGA TOUR Bob Hope Classic
Much is made of rookies on tour being at a disadvantage in part because they have to learn all the nuances of new tour courses...
Kingston's Matt McQuillen made nonsense of that theory, firing a -7 65 to T4 in a group that included Boo Weekley.
My pal and fine golf writer for the Sun and Golf News Now Ian Hutchinson was the first I saw to mention that Matt had been out in California practising in preparation for this season and it has obviously paid off..
He scorched the first 9 holes on the Palmer Private course with 4 birdies and an eagle for 30 !!
He only got into the field because Donnie Hammond withdrew.
Chris Baryla of Vernon, B.C., and Calgary's Stephen Ames both shot a -3 69 T53 on the Palmer course while Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., opened with an even-par 72 T107, also over the Palmer course.
The leader is tour sophomore Derek Lamely who's -9 63 included a birdie/eagle streak of 7-under (Nos. 2-7/B-B-B-B-E-B) in 6 holes !!!
Play is under way in round 2.
Bryan Angus
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McDowell survived a rules inquiry after his round, with European Tour senior referee Andy McFee judging that the Ulsterman's ball had oscillated but not moved as he addressed it before his pitch to the last.
His 66 stood as a result and Willett was alongside him after another birdie at the 17th, but the 23 year old vicar's son finished with a disappointing bogey six and slipped back to joint sixth.
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