The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Sabbatini, Mickelson flourish

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Saturday, May 12, 2007
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Sport - Golf

Sabbatini, Mickelson flourish

PONTE VEDRA BEACH (U.S): Rory Sabbatini and Phil Mickelson overcame strong winds to shoot 5-under 67s and share the first round lead at The Players Championship here on Thursday.

With gusts reaching 63-kmph, Tiger Woods was without a birdie for the first time in four years. ``I think he's more beatable than ever,'' Sabbatini said.

Woods had only four good looks at birdie, three-putted three times and had to save par from 90 feet behind the green on his final hole for a 3-over 75, matching his highest score at The Players.

It was his first round without a birdie since the opening round of the 2003 Masters.

``The greens are a little bit tricky to read,'' Woods said. ``Different grain out there than we're used to, and I had a tougher time than the guys at the top of the board.''

Mickelson birdied the first two holes and saved par from an awkward slope around the seventh green to join Sabbatini at 67.

Chopra tied 41st

Daniel Chopra got off to a modest start with a two-over 74 to be tied 41st. He had just one birdie and three bogeys.

Korea's K.J. Choi had a solid start when he fired a one-under-par 71 in the opening round. Choi, who has won four times on the US PGA Tour, enjoyed a smooth run on the back nine with two birdies, and coupled with a lone birdie against two bogeys on the way home, the Asian stalwart ended the day joint ninth.— PTI

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