Poor Day of Putting Leaves Woods Two Back After First-Round Play

Tiger Woods’ big swing was very evident in the first round of the $1.3-million Johnnie Walker Classic Thursday. His putting wasn’t.

“I gave myself some chances and just was not able to make the putts,” Woods said after finishing two shots off the lead with a four-under-par 68.

Tied for the lead at 66 were little-known Jeremy Robinson of England, Johan Skold of Sweden and Michael Campbell of New Zealand. American Jim Furyk and Australians Nick O’Hern and Peter Senior shot 67s.

Grouped with Woods at 68 were Sweden’s Marten Olander and Welshman Phillip Price.

Woods also said the fans and photographers bothered his play. Woods said he and members of his group had to back off shots several times because of cameras and flashes in the galleries.

Woods, winner of the Classic last year, had four birdies on the first nine holes. But he struggled on the back nine and didn’t make another birdie until the 17th hole. He completed his round with a bogey.

“I hit the ball very well today,” Woods said. “I made a lot of putts on the front nine, I just was not able to make anything on the back nine. I lipped out about three or four putts. You can’t get too mad about that.”

*

Lynx Golf said it will cancel production of the forged irons that Payne Stewart helped design and had planned to use in 2000. Stewart, who died Oct. 25 in a plane crash, had signed a three-year endorsement contract with Golfsmith International, the parent company of Lynx. He carried the Lynx bag when he won the U.S. Open and was to play its clubs next year.