Woods off to flier at Canadian Open
Friday, 7 September 2001 10:37Tiger Woods got off to a fast start as he launched the defence of his title at the Canadian Open with a five-under 65 for a share of the first-round lead. Woods toured the Royal Montreal Golf Club course on Ile Bizard without a bogey, sinking birdies at the first, sixth and 18th holes, and eagling the par-five 13th. The result was his fourth straight round of 65 or better at this event. He opened last year's tournament with a 72 but shot 65-64-65 to hold off Grant Waite of New Zealand by a stroke.
Royal Montreal is the only course where Woods has missed a cut in his PGA Tour career. That came in 1997, his first full season. Woods, who won his third straight World Golf Championship NEC Invitational in his last start two weeks ago, is trying to become the first player to win back-to-back Canadian Open titles since Jim Ferrier in 1950-51.
The world's top-ranked player is tied for the lead with Matt Gogel, Jim McGovern and Michael Muehr. John Daly, who snapped a six-year title drought Sunday in Munich, is just a stroke off the lead, as is Woods' best friend Mark O'Meara and Joey Sindelar. Daly used his vaunted length of the tee to set up a birdie at the 529-yard, par-five 13th, driving 375 yards, reaching the green in two and two-putting. But the story of his round was no bogeys.
Steve Stricker led a group of five players two shots off the pace. Other notables included Canadian Mike Weir at 68 and Sergio Garcia of Spain at 69. Ireland's Richie Coughlan is two over par following a round of 72 to leave him tied for 82nd going into the second round.
Filed by Shane Murray
