Daly Does His Share and Wins

Tiger Woods was flawless. Mark O’Meara was masterful. John Daly, with the highest score of the trio, was simply inspiring.

Woods fired a six-under-par 66, O’Meara a 67 and Daly a 70 at St. Andrews, Scotland, as the United States defeated England, 3-0, in the Dunhill Cup on Thursday.

Woods played flawlessly in a bogey-free round in his debut in the $1.67-million championship and O’Meara followed up his Masters and British Open victories with an eagle and five birdies, sinking a 45-foot putt on the last hole.

Still struggling to keep his game together as he maintains his battle against alcoholism and gambling addictions, Daly was up against one of the world’s emerging stars, Lee Westwood.

Driving wildly to the right, he landed in deep pot bunkers and in bushes as he bogeyed the fifth and sixth holes to fall behind. But, playing on the course where he won the British Open in 1995, Daly got his round together and birdied 9, 10, 12 and 14 for a two-under 70 to defeat Westwood by three strokes.

“It’s just awesome for me to come back to a course I love, and to beat Lee gives me confidence,” Daly said. “The course inspires me all the time. I wish the British Open were played here every year.”

*

David Duval shot a six-under 65 to share the first-round lead with Phil Tataurangi in the $1.8-million Michelob Championship at Williamsburg, Va.

Curtis Strange, Frank Lickliter and Steve Pate are in second place at 66.

*

Kelly Robbins shot a six-under 66 to take the first-round lead in the $750,000 LPGA Tournament of Champions at Opelika, Ala.

Robbins, who had nine birdies overall, birdied the final two holes to take a one-shot lead over Juli Inkster.