2011 Australian Open: Round 1 winners and losers
Let’s take a quick look at the winners and losers from the first round of the 2011 Australian Open.
Winners
Jarrod Lyle
Lyle freely admits nothing went right for him on the golf course this year but he turned it around today with a 7-under par 65 to hold the lead after the first round.
Tiger Woods
Woods produced a nice round of 4-under par today without playing very well at all. The old Tiger used to have these sorts of rounds all the time. Look out.
There was a silent undercurrent of conversation among golf ‘experts’ that hinted the Americans were just using the tournament as practice for the Presidents Cup. Most assumed the golf course wouldn’t suit them anyway, but Dustin Johnson, Nick Watney and the always dangerous Fred Couples are all within two shots of the lead.
Sydney
Sydney hasn’t had a great field for a golf tournament in a long time and the often fickle Sydney sporting public turned up like Melbournians to watch the opening round. The galleries were big for a Thursday and will only get bigger on the weekend.
Losers
Michael Campbell
The former US Open champion was floating along ok until he reached his 10th hole (1st) and put two balls into the water. I’ve spent more weekend playing golf than he has over the past two years.
Robert Allenby
Looking like a favourite this week, Allenby had a shocking first round including a horrible attempt to carry the water on 14 and a four-putt on the par-5 17th! He will need something special to make the cut.
Sydney Airport
The Sydney Airport is a loser at the best of times, but closing the runway or a forced Qantas strike would have made it much easier for the afternoon groups. Get your act together.
Do I really need to spell out the biggest loser today?
