Monstrous Finish Leaves Smith at 65

The Blue Monster’s signature hole has teeth again. And they’re sharper than ever.

Just about everyone struggled on the beefed-up 18th hole in the first round of the Ford Championship at Doral on Thursday.

Chris Smith was nine under par after 17 holes, but he closed with a double bogey for a seven-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Joe Durant at Miami.

Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Scott Verplank were two shots back. Smith, Mickelson and Verplank all found the water on the par-four 18th.

The finishing hole played into a strong wind and finished with a scoring average (4.74) higher than three of the Blue Monster’s four par-fives. It was easily the toughest hole on the PGA Tour this year and is on pace to be the tour’s most difficult hole over a four-day period since 1990.

“Five is not necessarily a bad score there, four is a very good score and three is like stealing one,” said Durant, one of only six players to birdie the hole. “It’s a very demanding tee shot. There’s not much room to bail out.”

Smith hit a perfect drive on No. 18 but pulled his second shot into the water left of the long and narrow green.

His fourth shot landed well past the hole, and he two-putted from there. It was his only real costly mistake of the day.

“It was probably the toughest shot I had to hit all day,” he said. “But it’s not going to ruin my night.”

Doral’s signature hole was lengthened 24 yards after last year’s tournament, when players hit short irons and wedges into the long, narrow green. Even tightly sheared rough sloping from the left side of the green to the lake did little to deter low scores in 2003. The once-feared 18th ranked 323rd last year with an average of 4.104.

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Tiger Woods has the $3-million appearance fee at the Dubai Desert Classic. Little-known Bradley Dredge of Wales has the lead.

Woods had a long and frustrating day and was at even par through 12 holes when the first round was suspended because of darkness.

The start of tournament was delayed 2 1/2 hours by fog, and about half the field failed to finish the round.

Dredge took an early lead with an eight-under 64. David Howell of England was three back after a 67, and Richard Green of Australia shot a 68. Ernie Els opened with a 70, and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland had an even-par 72.

Woods’ frustration was evident throughout a round that included a double bogey at the 10th. He showed his anger several times, including on the 13th tee, when he raised his club over his head and swung as if he were wielding an ax.

When play was stopped, Woods had a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 13, but he elected to wait until play resumed today.