The Open 2009 - Day One
Day One at The Aisla Course, Turnberry The Third Golf Major Of 2009
Jul 17, 2009
The 138th Open has The Aisla Course, Turnberry as its handsome setting on the Ayrshire coast, Scotland. The Par 70 course only has two Par Five holes but still measures about 7150 yards. Double defending champion Padraig Harrington has had a woeful season in terms of results in the big tournaments but his build up will have focused on this week and he knows how to win this tournament.
Five-time Open Champion Tom Watson
As ever in an Open, with a big field there are a few potential stories that stand out. This years it concerns two young players. Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, aged 17, tees up with Lee Westwood and Tiger Woods and 16 year old British Amateur champion, Metteo Manassero from Italy strides out with the oldest player, five time Open Champion Tom Watson.
Conditions are excellent on Day One, with sunshine and hardly any breeze and it is proving a fruitful day for former champions Mark Calcavecchia and Mark O’Meara who both shoot 67’s and Ben Curtis goes better with a 65. John Senden from Australia only got an invite into the tournament on Tuesday as a replacement but is making the most of it with a four under par 67. Vijay Singh quietly puts together a blemish free round of 67.
Tiger Woods Struggles
Tiger Woods is struggling but, the mark of a champion, his score does not really reflect this. Playing partner Lee Westwood has played superbly but is only one shot better off after the front nine. Ishikawa shows his aggressive intent on the Par Three 11th outdoing an excellent shot by Woods. Westwood has hardly missed a fairway all day but his 2nd shot on sixteen goes straight into the burn and drops two shots. Woods then follows him in and drops a shot.
Camilo Villegas produces a fine last few holes culminating in a delightful iron to the 18th leaves him a simple putt to finish with a 66. Westwood, like Graeme McDowell, finishes on 68 and Woods signs for a 71. Ryo Ishikawa cards a hugely impressive 68 and has coped well with all the attention and playing alongside his heroes. David Howell hit’s a fine iron to the last aiding him in completing a morale boosting 68.
Colin Montgomerie Complains
Anthony Kim somehow rattles up a score of nine on the 2nd hole and will be playing catch up for the rest of the week. Stewart Cink makes a 66 and Australian Matthew Goggin holes a marvellous 40 foot putt on the last to reach the clubhouse with a 66. Paul Casey has started fast and is four under after seven holes and Miguel Angel Jimenez starts well, -3 to the turn. Colin Montgomerie has found something to complain about on the eleventh as a boat is in his eye line.
John Daly, resplendent in crushed lime attire eagles the 7th to reach -2. It is now 5.00pm and five time Open winner is the story of the day having sat on his own at the top of the leader board for five hours with his 65. Danes Soren Kjeldsen and Soren Hansen have started well and so has Retief Goosen. Hansen gets to -5 briefly, but like Kjeldsen has to settle for a 68, Goosen goes one better and hits shot of the day somehow squeezing a shot out of the bunker to within two feet on 17.
The conditions have remained fairly easy and equal for players throughout the day. John Daly cards an excellent 67, Paul Casey struggles on the back nine and finishes with a 68 but Jimemez maintains his fine form to hold the overnight lead with a 68. The final word goes to Japan’s Kenichi Kuboya who finishes, almost in the dark, at 9.15pm with birdie, birdie, Eagle and birdie to post a 65.
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