Golf

Goosen lays down strong foundation

By wire services
Published September 2, 2005

BEIJING - Retief Goosen had two eagles in 8-under-par 64 Thursday, setting a course record and taking a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the China Masters.

Canada's Darren Griff and Australia's Gary Simpson were at 66 in the Asian Tour event. U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand was at 67, with John Wither of Scotland and Gary Rusnak of the United States.

Goosen, who in August won his first title of the year at the International in Colorado, made birdies on Nos. 3 and 6 and eagle on No. 7. The South African finished strong, with birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, eagle on No. 16 and birdie on 17.

"It's great to get off to a good start," Goosen said. "Now I have something to build on for the next three rounds."

EUROPEAN PGA: Defending champion Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia opened with 5-under-par 66, leaving them one stroke behind three leaders after the first round of the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.

Garry Houston of Wales and former Ryder Cup players Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden and David Carter of England were in front with 65. Peter Hedblom of Sweden joined Donald and Garcia at 66. Nineteen others were within four shots of the lead. The tournament is the first that counts toward making next year's European Ryder Cup team.

Donald and Garcia are two of the four 2004 European Ryder Cup players in the field. The others are Paul Casey (67) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (71).

LPGA: Heather Bowie chipped in for eagle and had a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill.

Bowie, who missed the U.S. Solheim Cup team after finishing 12th in the standings, was at par when she holed a 14-foot wedge shot on the fourth hole. She followed with five birdies in her bid for her second career title after winning the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in July.

Sherri Turner, who missed most of last year with a shoulder injury, birdied five of her first six holes and was tied for the lead before hitting a 7-iron into the water and making bogey at the par-3 16th. The 48-year-old Turner finished at 6 under along with Natalie Gulbis and Tina Barrett.

Defending champion Cristie Kerr, who won with a tournament-record 24 under last year, opened with 68 and was in a group of five three strokes back. Kerr won her sixth career title Sunday at the Wendy's Championship for Children, locking up the top spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team.

Aree Song of Bradenton was tied for 16th at 3-under 69, and Tampa's Dawn Coe-Jones was tied for 38th at 1 under. Brittany Lincicome of Seminole was tied for 86th at 2 over.

PGA: The Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Mass., begins today and finishes on Monday. Tiger Woods returns at No. 1 in the world ranking by six points over Vijay Singh, the largest margin in more than two years. The hoped for top-heavy field, however, is without Singh, who pulled out Tuesday when he suffered back spasms playing table tennis with his son. Ernie Els tore knee ligaments during a boating vacation before the PGA Championship and is recovering from surgery. Adam Scott, who won and tied for second the first two years of the event, decided two weeks ago that he needed a break and went home to Australia. Retief Goosen is playing in China and Sergio Garcia is in Switzerland.

[Last modified September 2, 2005, 02:15:35]