Singh Is Precise and Takes the Lead

Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain, was nothing like Tiger Woods or the rest of the Americans remembered from the Ryder Cup two years ago. All Vijay Singh knew was that his round worth savoring.

On wider fairways and slicker greens, Singh kept the ball in great position most of the day for a four-under 67 that gave him a one-stroke lead over Jim Furyk after the first round of the American Express Championship, the final World Golf Championship event of the year.

“It’s a golf course where you need to place the tee shots and iron shots precisely,” Singh said. “When you play well, you like it. I liked it today.”

The 67 was impressive considering the wind that swirled off the Mediterranean coast and kept low scores to a minimum. Only 11 players from the elite 62-man field managed to break par. Woods was not among them.

Trying to become the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win four consecutive tournaments, Woods birdied two of the last three holes for an even-par 71.

He missed five putts from eight feet or less that grazed the edge of the cup and caused him to scratch his head or slam his club in frustration.

By the time he signed his scorecard, he analyzed the situation and realized all was not lost. Of his 17 worldwide victories, Woods has led after the first round only once.

“One bad putting day in two months isn’t bad,” he said. “In conditions like this, even-par or better is a good round. I’m still in the ballgame.”

Phil Mickelson and Scott Hoch, who both played well in the ’97 Ryder Cup, Bob Estes, Nick Price and 46-year-old Mark James were at 69, while Jeff Maggert and Colin Montgomerie were among those at 70. Another stroke back with Woods was Justin Leonard.

*

Bruce Fleisher, the happiest man on the Senior PGA Tour, kept smiling after his five-under 67 tied him with Bruce Summerhays a shot ahead of the field after the first round of the Senior Tour Championship at Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Fleisher, a 51-year-old rookie, has rolled through the circuit this season with seven victories and more than $2.3 million in earnings, all but wrapping up player-of-the-year honors.

This time he struggled a bit before his putts began to fall. He made an eight-footer for birdie on No. 10, a 12-footer on No. 12 and an eight-footer on No. 13. On the 15th hole, he made an 18-footer to tie George Archer for the lead and took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt on the next hole.

Archer was next at 68. Allen Doyle was tied at 69 with Ed Dougherty, Hugh Baiocchi, Joe Inman and Dana Quigley.