Woods battles heat, opens with 70 in Thailand
tournament
By ROBERT HORN / Associated Press Writer
BANGNA, Thailand (AP) - Tiger Woods, overcome by 95-degree
heat and humidity in a pro-am competition a day earlier, shot
a 2-under-par 70 today in the opening round of the Asian Honda
Classic.
"I made some mental mistakes as well as some physical
ones," said Woods, who was four strokes behind leader Lee
Petters of Britain. "But it's only one round, and anything
under par is a good start."
With temperatures again in the 90s, Woods' gray shirt was drenched
in sweat before he teed off. Members of his entourage said he
was still fighting the effects of a 20-hour flight from Los Angeles
on Tuesday.
Woods, receiving a reported $480,000 from tournament organizers
to play in the $300,000 event, returned to the clubhouse Wednesday
after playing his second shot on the 13th hole, citing heat exhaustion
and food poisoning.
About 200 spectators, including his Thai mother Kultida, along
with 300 media members, followed the 21-year-old star in the opening
round.
"He's great," said Tanet Chuntaban, 11, whose father
brought him to the Thai Country Club to get a glimpse of Woods.
"I want to be just like him."
Thailand's top player, Prayad Marksaeng, was paired with Woods.
"I was pleased to play with him," said Marksaeng,
who opened with a 67. "He is an inspiration."
Woods praised Marksaeng's play.
"Shooting 5-under in the wind is something else,"
Woods said. "It was great to see."
Few people watched defending champion Steve Elkington of Australia,
or two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange.
"We're used to it," said Elkington, who opened with
a 71. "That's the way it should be. He's the man now."
Woods has three victories in 11 pro starts on the PGA Tour.
He won the season-opening Mercedes Championships and finished
second last week in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The three-time
U.S. Amateur champion is scheduled to play next week in the Australian
Masters.
American Clay Devers matched Marksaeng's 67, while Strange
shot a 68.
Petters, who plays under the colors of the United Arab Emirates,
was injured on the 14th tee when he stepped into Pakistani partner
Shakeep Hussain's backswing. Petters' nose was split open and
he lay on the ground for five minutes, but resumed play with a
birdie on the par-5 hole.
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