Woods opens with 68, Parsons shoots course-record
64
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Tiger Woods said he was mentally
drained today after straining to stay in touch with Australia's
Lucas Parsons in the first round of the Australian Masters.
"It wasn't easy today," said Woods, who was four
strokes behind Parsons after a 5-under-par 68 on the demanding
Huntingdale course. "As everyone knows, this golf course
requires a lot of concentration. One mistake with a tee shot and
you're looking at bogey or worse.
"I grinded my way around. Today was very tiring. Physically,
I'm fine, but it is just a mental grind on a golf course that
requires so much accuracy off the tee. I just made one birdie,
apart from the par-5s."
Parsons, who lost his PGA Tour card last season after earning
only $21,233 in 24 starts, shot a 9-under 64 to match the course
record held by German star Bernhard Langer and Australia's Mike
Clayton.
"I accept things better now, I'm not so hard on myself,"
said Parsons, had seven birdies and and holed his second shot
on the par-4 13th for an eagle. "I learned a lot last year
in America, I experimented too much and did not do what I do best."
Woods, seeking his fifth victory in 14 professional starts,
said he was not surprised to see Parsons leading the tournament.
"What a lot of people don't understand is that any pro
is capable of doing it on any given day and he did it today,"
Woods said.
Woods, coming off a hectic week in Thailand that ended with
a 10-stroke victory in the Asian Honda Classic, saved par on No.
18 with a 10-foot putt. The 21-year-old American star used his
driver only once on the tight 6,993-yard course - setting up a
birdie on the par-5 10th.
An estimated 10,000 people stood six and seven deep around
the first fairway when Woods teed off with Australians Brett Ogle
and Robert Allenby.
Fighting for glimpses of Woods, the fans distracted Ogle and
Allenby throughout the round, with Ogle yelling at one point that,
"Tiger's not the only one playing out here."
Allenby shot a 70, while Ogle shot a 78.
Australia's Peter O'Malley was a stroke behind Parsons at 65,
while Canadians Mike Weir and Rick Gibson opened with 67s. Former
U.S. Masters champion Larry Mize joined Woods in a six-player
group at 68.
"Everyone talks about it not being that big a tournament
or the field not being world class," Mize said. "My
opinion is that you have a lot of world-class players here as
well as a lot of good young Australians that people haven't heard
of yet, but probably will."
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