KAUAI, Hawaii, 25 November 2004 — South Africa’s Retief Goosen fired a seven-under par 65 here Tuesday to grab a one-stroke lead over Fiji’s Vijay Singh after the first round of the one million-dollar PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
US Open champion Goosen opened with five birdies in the first six holes and sank an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-5 finishing hole to seize the lead at the 22nd annual showdown of the year’s four-major champions.
“It was nice to get off to a good start,” Goosen said. “When you get off to a start like that, the momentum sort of carries you on.”
Singh, the PGA Championship winner, lipped out a four-foot birdie effort to finish on 66.
“I should have made that last one there. I really didn’t hit a good putt,” Singh said. “I just have to be patient. There’s 18 holes. One shot, it’s nothing.”
Masters champion Phil Mickelson of the United States concluded with a four-foot eagle putt to stand third on 68, two strokes ahead of compatriot Todd Hamilton, the British Open champion.
“I felt like I needed an eagle to gain a stroke because Retief and Vijay were going to make birdies. Four strokes over 2 players seems a lot,” Mickelson said. “What I need is to make a lot more birdies like Vijay and Retief did.”
Mickelson also eagled the par-5 second hole after a flop-shot from off the green rolled into the cup. “Phil had a good finish so he’s back in the hunt but Vijay I think is the man to beat tomorrow,” Goosen said.
Goosen became a father last Friday, his wife Tracy giving birth to daughter Ella. Goosen admitted he was not going to miss the birth even if it meant skipping the trip here.
“I was probably about 10 hours from not coming,” Goosen said. “By Friday lunchtime, if the baby wasn’t there, then I was going to pull out. But I’m here now. I’m going to try and make the trip worth my while coming over here.”
The specialty event at 7,081-yard Poipu Bay Golf Course pays $400,000 to the winner and $150,000 for last place.
World No. 1 Singh has won six of his past nine events over the past four months, including wresting the top ranking from Tiger Woods in September by winning a man-to-man duel for the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Singh, 41, led the US PGA Tour with nine victories and became the first player to eclipse the $10 million mark in one-season prize money. He was using a new driver in round one but plans a switch to his usual club.
“I drove it OK but I don’t think it’s made to play in a competition,” Singh said. “I’ll have to bring my old one back out. It has done pretty well.”
Goosen, sixth on the money list with $3.8 million, won nearly one-third of his year’s earnings at the US Open.
Mickelson, 34, erased a 0-for-46 drought in major championships by winning at Augusta National in April. He finished third on the money list with $5,784,823.
