CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk and rookie Bill Haas stand in a four-way tie for the lead with 4-under 68s after the first round of the Wachovia Championship on Thursday.
South Africans "I definitely don't have a mindset that the course owes me one or anything like that," Furyk said. "I played well here last year, I gave it a good effort, and I was disappointed at that time, but now I have fond memories of it. It's good to come back, knowing my game's in good shape." Tiger Woods wasn't there, having already decided to skip the tournament for the first time in three years to be with his father, Earl, who died of cancer on Wednesday. "He's obviously mentally very strong, and I think he got that from his dad," Justin Rose said. "He'll cope, but it's not easy."
Rose should know. His father, Ken, died from cancer in 2002 at age 57, and he had been a very big part of his son's development. Ken Rose occasionally caddied for Justin during the early stages of his career. "Obviously, I was as close to my dad as he is to his, so I know exactly how hard it'll be for him right now," Rose said. "The difference being, obviously, how much attention ... but that comes with being the No. 1 player in the world."
Rose had a 70 and is tied for eighth at Quail Hollow, a favorite course
of the players since the event's inception three years ago. The main
draw is the course, which opened in 1961 and has featured improvements
over the years from Arnold Palmer and
famed designer Sure, there are the Mercedes-Benz courtesy cars and other perks such as lunch served on the range, but the layout draws the most raves. "It gives you a U.S. Open kind of feel, with the greens firm and fast, and you really have to pay attention," said Billy Andrade, among three players tied for fifth after a 69. "This is the kind of setup I like, the kind of setup I usually play well on." For Haas, this tournament already was special. He was joined in the field by his father, Jay Haas, and his brother, Jay Jr., the first time all three members of the family played in the same tournament. Jay Jr. got in through Monday qualifying, while Bill earned his card at Q-school last year and received a sponsor's exemption. The last time a father played with two sons on the PGA TOUR was at the 1994 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, when Jack Nicklaus was in the field with Jackie and Gary. "We've gone to dinner the last two nights," said Bill Haas, who insisted he and his brother had no wager on the outcome. "We don't really talk about it. I hope he plays well. I hope he beats me." Jay Jr. has a ways to go. He shot a 78 in the first round, three shots behind Jay Sr.
Most everyone feels he has the game to stick around. "It's just effortless," said Andrade, who joined the Haas family for a practice round earlier in the week. "He has all the tools to be a great player for a long time." Perhaps he'll be as successful as Andrade, now in his 19th year. The most recent of his four career victories came in 2000, but he does enough every year to stay in the top 125 on the money list. Some struggles early leave him 164th this season, and he's qualified for the weekend in only five of 10 tournaments. And Andrade has missed the cut in all three previous starts at Quail Hollow. "There are some golf courses you can fake it on, and some you can't," he said. "This is one you can't fake it on. Every year I've come here, I just love it so much. It's just my type of feel. I'm very comfortable, though I haven't showed it in the results yet." ©The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. |
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