SHANGHAI, 14 May 2004 — Former world No. 1 Greg Norman, who has not won a European Tour event for 10 years, finished the Asian Open first round just one shot off the lead after a clinical 67 yesterday.
“I’m very happy with the round,” the 49-year-old Australian told reporters at the biggest golf tournament ever held in mainland China. “It was a good solid day.”
The first-round leader was England’s Simon Dyson, who shot a sparkling six-under-par 66 to continue his fine form in the region where in 2000 he won the Macao Open, the China Open and the Hong Kong Open.
“Anything to do with China, I’m three out of three,” Dyson said. “It’ll be nice to make it four.” Dyson was delighted to lead the “Great White Shark” in the first European Tour event to take place on the Chinese mainland.
“Nice one to be leading by one over Greg,” Dyson said. “He looked to be playing well.”
South Korean K.J. Choi tied with Norman, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Gregory Hanrahan of the United States at five under after sinking a 25-foot birdie putt at the 18th.
Defending champion Padraig Harrington endured a disappointing par finish on the back of five birdies and five bogies and had to settle for a 72. The Irishman suffered mixed fortunes throughout his round, capped with a lost ball in the water at the 18th.
Germany’s Alex Cejka finished two shots off the lead at four-under-par 68 after holing a 30-foot putt to birdie the 17th.
China’s soft-spoken No. 1, Zhang Lian-wei, admitted to nerves over his first four holes as he partnered Norman and Marksaeng on the way to a 70.
“I’ve never played with Norman before,” he said. “It put a lot of pressure on me. It’s one thing to play with these big names abroad, but quite another on home territory. But things picked up from the fourth hole,” Zhang said.
Norman’s last European Tour win came at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand in 1994.
