THOMASTOWN, Ireland, 1 October 2004 — Champion Tiger Woods battled through back pain to stay in touch with the lead as fellow American Todd Hamilton set the pace in the WGC-American Express Championship first round yesterday.
British Open champion Hamilton fired a six-under-par 66 to move a stroke clear at Mount Juliet, spoiling a run of four successive birdies from the 14th with a bogey at the last. Three-times winner Woods, who took painkillers and needed occasional on-course back rubs by his caddie Steve Williams, returned a 68 for a share of eighth place.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, a four-times winner on the 2004 European Tour, carded a 67 to tie for second, alongside compatriot Sergio Garcia, Britain’s Luke Donald, American left-hander Steve Flesch and Australians Stuart Appleby and Adam Scott.
Woods, bidding for his first strokeplay title since his two-shot victory in last year’s American Express Championship at Woodstock, Georgia, had been a doubtful starter after playing just seven holes of practice on Wednesday.
The eight-times major winner injured his shoulder last week after sleeping awkwardly on a flight to Orlando and only decided to play after a warm-up session before the round. “I was hoping the spasms would go away, but that didn’t happen,” Woods told reporters. “I just had to get through it somehow and post a number.”
Further birdies on 11 and 17 were offset by bogeys at 12 and at the last as he slipped back to four under overall.
Among the other big names in the elite field of 68, US Open champion Retief Goosen fired a 68, fellow South African and world No. 3 Ernie Els posted a 69 and fourth-ranked Davis Love III battled to a 74.
Host Malaysia Fire 63 to Set Pace in Qualifier
Malaysia got off to a flying start in the World Cup qualifier yesterday when Danny Chia and R. Nachimuthu combined for a sizzling nine-under-par 63 in the opening fourball.
Chia, chasing his third World Cup appearance, contributed four birdies while debutant Nachimuthu struck five in his last 10 holes at Palm Resort Golf and Country Club.
The local duo lead by two shots from Chinese Taipei’s Wang Ter-chang and Lu Wei-chih while a further shot back were surprise package Pakistan and Myanmar, who both posted 66. Thailand, India, Korea, Finland and Switzerland all shot 67s to lie within striking distance of the leaders.
The top three finishers on Sunday will earn places in November’s $4 million World Cup in Seville, Spain, in November.
Chia and Nachimuthu enjoyed a run of five straight birdies in mid-round, thanks to Nachimuthu’s 15-foot curling putt on the ninth. Nachimuthu’s birdie blitz included a chip in from the back of the green on the 13th.
