Choi, Snedeker tied for lead

Published : 2013-01-25 19:48
Updated : 2013-01-25 19:48

Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju tees off on the ninth hole at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday. (AFP-Yonhap News)

SAN DIEGO (AP) ― Brandt Snedeker ended another round at Torrey Pines atop the leaderboard. Only this time he had company, and still a long way to go.

Snedeker had a flawless start to his title defense in the Farmers Insurance Open by playing bogey-free on the North Course for a 7-under 65 and a share of the lead with Choi Kyung-ju on Thursday. The advantage after one day goes to Choi, who birdied three of his last four holes on the tough South Course for his 65.

Tiger Woods, a seven-time champion at Torrey Pines as a pro, looked as if he might join them. Woods was one shot off the lead with five holes to play on the South until he stumbled in the final hour of a cloudy day with two bogeys and had to scramble to save par on the par-5 18th for a 68.

“I made a few mistakes out there, but I made some nice plays as well,” Woods said.

He three-putted for double bogey on the fourth hole, and then responded with a 12-footer for birdie, an eagle by holing a bunker shot on the par-5 sixth, and birdie putts on the eighth and ninth holes to get back into the game.

Phil Mickelson had quite the taxing day with a 72 on the North, which played about 1 1/2 strokes easier than the course that hosted a U.S. Open in 2008.

Snedeker already is developing quite the love affair with this municipal course along the Pacific Bluffs. As a rookie, he was 10 under through 10 holes and had to settle for a 61 on the North Course. He finished third that year. Then, he rallied from seven shots behind in the final round, got into a playoff when Kyle Stanley made triple bogey on the 18th and won on the second playoff hole.

One year later, he was right back at it.

“It’s funny, you look at all the golf courses I should play well on, this should not be one of them,” Snedeker said. “This is a long, difficult golf course with lots of rough and hitting a lot of iron shots. My strength is driving and putting, so it doesn’t really add up well around year. But for some reason, it’s been good to me.”

It was even more of a mystery for Choi.

He is not a regular at Torrey Pines and decided not to come last year until he heard from his host family in San Diego that the South Korean community wanted to see him play. Choi put on quite a show. He finally got some height and spin into shots while warming up on the range, and he converted that into the best round on the South.

He ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine ― he started on No. 10 ― and no shot was more pleasing than a wedge into a light crosswind on the 15th hole that settled inches from the cup.

“Best shot ever on the South Course ― ever,” he said, grinning.

Of the eight players at 66, only Josh Teater posted his on the South Course. Of the PGA Tour events that use multiple courses, few of them are as different as the South and North at Torrey Pines, although the difference in scoring average has been greater in recent years.

Qatar Masters
DOHA (AP) ― Ryder Cup stars Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia were among four players tied for the lead at the Qatar Masters after the second round on Thursday.

The leaderboard was crowded, with 15 players within three shots of the leaders, thanks to mainly calm conditions at Doha Golf Course.

Kaymer had a 5-under 67 and Garcia (66), overnight leader Ricardo Santos (70) of Portugal and Marcus Fraser (67) of Australia were at 9-under 135. They had a one-shot lead on five players, including former U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell (68).

Three shots behind after the first round, the former top-ranked Kaymer took the lead thanks to his short game. He holed a chip from the fringe on 13 and made several long putts including a birdie on the ninth. Kaymer had a bogey-free round that featured five birdies.

The understated German felt his round was merely “OK,” and believed his score would not be enough to hold up over the last two rounds.

“I played a lot better than the last few rounds I played, especially in Abu Dhabi,” Kaymer said. “But I was a little fortunate today, a few putts that dropped, but on those greens that happens sometimes, and I think 9 under is a good position to be in.”