Thursday, July 20, 2000
Woods shoots 67, one behind leader Els
By TIM DAHLBERG
AP Sports Writer
 ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) —
A month after losing by 15 shots in the U.S. Open, Ernie Els managed
to upstage Tiger Woods in the first round of the British Open.
Els birdied the difficult Road Hole to cap off a 6-under 66 Thursday
in the lengthening shadows on the Old Course to take a one-stroke
lead over Woods and Steve Flesch.
Just when it seemed Woods would stay atop the leaderboard on his
way to another coronation, Els made eight birdies, including a
10-footer on the 17th hole, that pulled him out of a tie for the
lead.
Woods, making a strong opening move toward a career Grand Slam,
earlier shot a 5-under 67 on a day when the venerable course was
yielding birdies in bunches.
A few hours after Woods came in, Flesch shot a 67 of his own.
Unlike Woods, who is chasing his second major championship of
the year, Flesch has never won a major title or a PGA Tour event.
Els has, though, with two U.S. Open titles to his credit. And
he showed that he will not be intimidated by Woods. Els would
have had a two-shot lead, but missed a 12-footer on the last hole.
Six players, including Tom Lehman and Dennis Paulson, were two
shots back at 68 on a day when the winds were light and the scoring
conditions perfect.
“If you're playing well, the course is there for the taking,”
Lehman said.
It was Woods who set the early pace, as expected by the bookies
who made him a 15-8 pick to win the tournament.
Coming off a historic victory in the U.S. Open and needing only
the British title to complete wins in all four major championships,
Woods started slowly but came back to make five birdies in seven
holes to move into a lead he would hold until Els finished.
Woods was in trouble only once, when he had to hit out of knee-high
grass on No. 17. But he managed to get his shot near the front
of the green and putted in for par.
 “It was neat to be out there
playing in a major championship again,” Woods said. “We're
in a major championship and anything in the red is good.”
Journeyman British pro Ian Garbutt threatened Woods for a while,
making four straight 3s on the front side that included an eagle
on the fifth hole. Garbutt, playing in his first Open since 1993,
was 7 under through 12 holes, but faltered and ended with a 68.
The lack of wind helped lower scores, as did a decision by Open
officials to water the dry, hard fairways and greens overnight.
Woods was even par through eight holes, then birdied Nos. 9 and
10 and followed with birdies at 12, 14 and 15. He had trouble
hitting the ball close early, but made the putts when he did.
Woods was especially happy with two-putting a putt he estimated
at 150 feet on No. 10 and by making par on the Road Hole.
“Under these conditions it's not too bad,” he said.
If Woods wins, he would be only the fifth player — and at
24, the youngest — to win the career Grand Slam. The last
player to win all four majors was Nicklaus in 1966.
“It's something that I would love to be able to do,”
Woods said. “But there's three more days before it happens
or it doesn't.”
Notah Begay appeared headed for the early clubhouse lead. But
he made a triple bogey after hitting out of the water on No. 17,
bringing back images of Jean Van de Velde a year ago.
Begay, who at one point was 7 under, also bogeyed the 18th hole
to finish with a 3-under 69.
“That's more fun than taking a drop,” Begay said of
his shot out of the burn with his shoes and socks on. “It
wasn't a bad start. I wish it could have been better.”
Scores were low across the board as the Old Course was without
its main defense: wind. The calm weather was a welcome relief
for players prepared for gusts off the North Sea.
Before play began, Woods' opponents bravely lined up to say he
can be beaten. His swing coach wasn't so sure, and it showed as
Woods played steadily early and began finding his range as the
round went on.
“He's not putting quite as well,” Woods' coach Butch
Harmon said, “but we worked on it ... and it's coming around.”
Those might be words Woods' opponents dread hearing, especially
if the wind kicks up.
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