GOLF TEXAS OPEN : Clearwater Gets There, Shoots 63

Keith Clearwater brushed aside his late-night trip to Texas and shot a seven-under-par 63 Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Texas Open.

Karl Kimball was second at 64, one stroke better than Mark Calcavecchia, who had two eagles in his first outing since his rough final match in the Ryder Cup last weekend. Nine golfers were at 66 after one trip around Oak Hills Country Club.

PGA champion John Daly shot a 67, barely missing a birdie putt on 18.

Clearwater was operating on only three hours’ sleep after arriving in San Antonio early Thursday morning. His plane out of Salt Lake City experienced hydraulic trouble, forcing the passengers to stay on the grounded aircraft for two hours. Clearwater later found another flight to Texas.

“That was the event, really--just to get here,” Clearwater said. The travel snags left him no time to practice or mentally prepare himself until 40 minutes before the tournament began, he said.

Defending champion Mark O’Meara, who shot a 76, Calcavecchia, Paul Azinger (68), Lanny Wadkins (70) and Corey Pavin (69)--the Ryder Cup team members playing in the Texas Open--headed to Washington aboard a charter flight after their rounds. This morning, they were to get personal congratulations from President Bush for the American victory, then return to San Antonio in time to play afternoon rounds.