Golf Digest/PGA Tour: Joe Ogilvie, who lost out to Padraig Harrington in a play-off for the Honda Classic last week, set the first round pace in the rain-delayed Bay Hill Invitational at Bay Hill GC and Lodge in Orlando, Florida, yesterday.
Tiger Woods, who recently reclaimed his world number one spot, looked as if he might be among the leaders until an eight-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole caught the right edge of the cup and spun out.
He was three under par at the time and seemingly in control. But Woods had to make a six-footer for par on the 18th to avoid a bogey-bogey-bogey finish and finally had to settle for a 71.
Ernie Els was five shots behind him at one point after an ugly bogey on the par-five 12th. He made up those five shots in five holes, but not before the South African was so disgusted with his putting that he flung his ball into the water on the 13th, but three birdies from the 15th saw him finish with a 71.
US Open champion Retief Goosen hit two balls out of bounds on Thursday, and one yesterday in his first round and finished on six over par 78, including a triple bogey seven on the ninth.
Goosen was so wayward that he didn't hit a par five in regulation until the 16th, and even then just barely. His second shot started to roll into the water until it stopped in the wet grass.
The most bizarre moment of the day, however, belonged to Mark Hensby. He was nine over par for his round when he drove out of bounds on the 18th. Instead of reloading, he packed it in.
The Aussie walked the rest of the hole with Andre Stolz and Mike Weir without hitting another shot, and was disqualified for not finishing the 18th hole.
Darren Clarke also had a disappointing day, finishing with a four over par 76 that included a nine at the par five fifth hole and a double bogey six at the last.
McDowell and Clarke were due to start their second rounds early this morning.
World number two Singh, meanwhile, got off to another sluggish start, completing his first round at even par.
Woods, Els or Singh could leave Orlando tomorrow with the number one ranking in the world.
Champions Tour: Gil Morgan held the clubhouse lead during the first round of the Toshiba Senior Classic at Newport Beach CC, Newport Beach, California, last night.
Morgan fired a six-under-par 65 while Ireland's Mark McNulty leads the chasing pack of Tom Jenkins, Keith Fergus, Lonnie Nielsen and JC Snead a shot back on 67.
Ireland's Des Smyth continued the good form which saw him win last week's Champions Tour SBC Classic event when he registered a round of three under par.
After cancelling out birdies at the second and 11th with bogeys at the sixth and eight, Smyth eagled the long 15th to move to two under and five shots off the pace.
The Laytown Bettystown golfer parred the par four 16th and par three 17th, before birdie on the last left him on 68.
LPGA Tour: Soo-Yun Kang from Korea set the early clubhouse target when she shot a second round 66 for a halfway total of 10-under par 134 in the Safeway International at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club, Superstition Mountain, Arizona yesterday.
Soo-Yun Kang led by one from Grace Park (67) with Juli Inkster and Candie Kung a shot back on 139.
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