NEDBANK WORLD CHALLENGE:Darren Clarke is last of the 12-man field at the Gary Player Country Club after the first round, six behind leaders Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel. Clarke, who has not managed a top-30 finish since capturing the British Open in July opened with a two over par 74.
Defending champion Westwood and home favourite Schwartzel carded 68s, one shot better than Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, with Graeme McDowell and world number one Luke Donald among six players another stroke back.
Donald had looked set to at least share the lead after playing the first 14 holes in four under, but found water off the tee on the 17th to run up a double-bogey six.
In contrast, Westwood recovered from a bogey at the first to reach the turn in 34 thanks to a birdie on the second and an eagle three on the par-five ninth.
And the world number three picked up three more shots on the back nine, completing his round in style with a birdie from 18ft on the last.
Schwartzel’s back nine was even more impressive, the South African storming home in 31 with five birdies after running up a double-bogey seven on the ninth.
“I got cross! I probably became fearless,” Schwartzel said. “Turning on one over I was not too happy with myself, I felt that I was playing better than that and sometimes that’s what you need to spur you on.
“I started releasing the club properly and was just firing at the flags. It didn’t look too promising after the turn, so I was happy with my finish. It gave me a nice positive vibe going into the next three rounds.”
THAILAND CHAMPIONSHIP:Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han has rejected criticism of appearance fees
being paid to players for the season-ending event and said the tournament will help flood-ravaged Bangkok get back to normal.
Three of this year’s four major champions – Charl Schwartzel (Masters), Rory McIlroy (US Open) and Darren Clarke (British Open) – along with world number three Lee Westwood, will compete in the inaugural €742,000 event from December 15th-18th.
One of Thailand’s leading players, Thaworn Wiratchant, whose own house was flooded, said it would be better if the appearance money was “spent helping the thousands of people affected by the floods”.
Thailand’s worst floods in 50 years have killed more than 600 people and devastated industry, but the situation is slowly improving, with water receding in many affected areas and some firms resuming business.
Asian Tour executive chairman Han said cancelling the tournament would send the wrong message and that the event would raise money to help the country recover.
“There is a lot of charity effort for the flood victims already in place for that tournament,” Han said. “Everything the Tour is hearing about Thailand is that the country is trying to get back to normal and by having this event we are doing our part.
“The hotels are up to around 30 per cent occupancy, and agreeing to stage the golf tournament, despite what has happened, just shows the positivity of the country.
“So by agreeing to go ahead with the tournament, and yes with some players being paid appearance money, the Asian Tour is throwing our support behind the country.
“So we’re trying to be more positive than negative and I don’t know where Thaworn is coming from.”
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