Screaming "Woods-san" and "Tiger!" thousands of Japanese golf fans ignored their local hero and a collection of celebrities to follow Tiger Woods' every move Friday in a Pro-Am event in Hanno, Japan.
"I've never heard so many `oohs' when I drove," Woods said after shooting 1-under-par 69 at the 6,738-yard Musashigaoka Golf Course outside Tokyo.But for the 3,500 fans who paid $163 apiece for their tickets, the score didn't matter. Neither did the movie stars and baseball players, including Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza, who also took part in the Pro-Am event.
Japan's second-year pro Shigeki Maruyama, who has emerged as the heir apparent to Jumbo Ozaki as the best golfer in Japan, shot a 66, the best score of the day. But his effort went virtually unnoticed as the crowds followed Woods.
There is no prize money for the Pro-Am event, but the professionals were paid for their appearances and expenses.
Besides Woods and Maruyama, eight professional golfers, including Nick Price and Mark O'Meara, took part, as well as 41 celebrities.
Senior Tour Championship
At Myrtle Beach, S.C., Hale Irwin wasn't in the lead and glad not to be there early in the Senior Tour Championship.
Irwin's steady 68 left him at 4-under Thursday, two strokes back of leader Bob Murphy and in contention for a record-setting 10th senior victory this season.
Utahn Bruce Summerhays made three birdies on the back nine to tie Irwin.
Murphy's 66, his best in 15 rounds, comes at the end of his worst of five Senior seasons. He is 19th on the money list.
Kapalua International
David Toms hopes his round on the second course used in the Kapalua International will be as stress-free as the first.
Admittedly rusty after a month-long layoff, Toms nonetheless used birdie spurts early and late in the opening round Thursday to shoot an 8-under-par 63, giving him a 1-stroke advantage over Loren Roberts and Olin Browne.
Toms got off to a quick start on the shorter of the two courses used in the tournament with birdies on four of the first six holes. He finished the round with birdies on four of the last five holes.
He switched to the par-73, 7,263-yard Plantation Course for today's second round. The Plantation is the site for the final two rounds Saturday and Sunday.
Sarazen World Open
For the first time in more than a month, David Duval didn't play particularly well.
Still, the former Georgia Tech star, who has won the last three tournaments he's entered, remained in contention after the opening round of the $2 million Sarazen World Open golf tournament.
Scotland's Sam Torrance shot a 4-under-par 68 for a 1-stroke lead in the rain-delayed opening round Thursday. Duval shot 71 over the 6,993-yard, par-72 Legends course at Chateau Elan.