Confident Maybin continues to impress

GOLF:GARETH Maybin is just two shots off the pace following an impressive opening round of 65 in the first round of the weather-disrupted Singapore Masters yesterday.

Following his near miss at Valderrama a fortnight ago, when he finished second after losing out by two shots to eventual champion Graeme McDowell at the Andalucia Masters, Maybin showed the confidence is still there as he fired a six-under par on his return to competitive action on the Tanjon course at Sentosa Golf Club.

On a low-scoring opening day, particularly on the Tanjon course, Maybin’s total was still two shots behind pacesetters Chris Wood and Kim Bi-o who both recorded eight under 63s.

Spain’s Ignacio Garrido had also reached eight under through 11 holes before play was brought to a halt due to failing light.

Thunderstorms yesterday morning led to a four-hour delay and much of the field have still to complete their first rounds.

Among them is Graeme McDowell, who is eager to chase down Martin Kaymer in the Race to Dubai standings.

The US Open champion, playing on the harder Serapong layout, began like a man possessed with five birdies in six holes from the third and will not have enjoyed hearing the hooter to end play after just eight holes.

Darren Clarke was also on five under thanks to a bogey-free round and he is joined on that mark by a large group of players including Nick Dougherty, Miguel Angel Jimenez Jamie Donaldson and YE Yang.

Peter Lawrie (four under after eight) was also well placed while Pádraig Harrington finished on two under par.

Of the other Irish contenders, Damien McGrane finished with a level par 71 while Shane Lowry shot a 73. However Paul McGinley struggled to a five-over 76 and Gary Murphy a forgettable 79.

At the top of the leaderboard, Wood made a blistering start on the Tanjon course and reeled off three consecutive birdies.

The 22-year-old added an eagle at the sixth to reach the turn in 31 and three more birdies in a row from the 11th saw him quickly move to eight under.

He was joined by playing partner Kim Bi-o, who played the front nine in 33 but five birdies on the way back helped the Korean draw level.

Wood was hopeful of building on his excellent start on the more difficult Serapong set-up today.

“The course I played today was the one you are looking to get your score in because there are a lot of good chances out there,” he said.

“The other course I’m playing tomorrow has a bit more meat to it so if I could shoot another one of those down there, I’ll be happy.”

Korean Kim, on the other hand, felt he could have shot an even lower score.

“I had a lot of chances to make birdies as I missed about four birdies from inside 10 feet,” he said.

“I’m still fine and happy with eight-under but I’m going to head out to the putting green and work on my putting. Hopefully I can play as good in the next few days.”

Garrido, meanwhile, was piecing together potentially the round of his career with the Spaniard eight under through just 11 holes.

The former Ryder Cup player began with three straight birdies and picked up three more to play the front nine in just 30. Garrido then recorded birdies at the 10th and 11th before play was brought to a halt due to darkness.

Shigeki Maruyama was one stroke adrift of the leaders in the clubhouse after posting a 64, the Japanese veteran making six birdies and an eagle with his only blemish coming with a bogey at the par-five 12th. He was level with Swede Rikard Karlberg, who has three holes to play.

Maybin finished two shots off the pace in a tie for sixth alongside Anthony Kang, who was six under through 14 holes.

Phil Mickelson was at four under par, as was Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, following solid 67s, while defending champion Ian Poulter was even through six holes on the Serapong layout.

Last week’s HSBC Champions winner Francesco Molinari, meanwhile, was two under after eight holes.

The 204-strong field will play both the Serapong and Tanjon courses through their first two rounds before the tournament reverts to just the Serapong for the weekend.