Round 2: Buick Open
By PGATOUR.COM staff
The first groups are ready to tee off in the second round of the Buick Open. Here's how it sets up:
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EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR on-site correspondent Brett Wright previews Friday's round:
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Round 1 of the Buick Open started out with a cavalcade of birdies from the early wave of players. Steve Lowery made 10 birdies on his way to a 9-under 63. Aussie John Senden, who is quietly having a great year, made nine birdies on his trek to an 8-under 64. Several other players posted 5- and 6-under rounds from the morning wave.
The wind never really picked up, and the greens never hardened in the afternoon, yet scoring became more difficult. Why? The greens are bent grass with a lot of poa annua, which tends to become a little grainy and bumpy after a day's play. The other factor to the afternoon scoring increase was the fact that most players were nine strokes off the lead before they hit their first shot of the day. This knowledge put pressure on players to get off to a hot start. Some players admitted to trying to force early birdies, and the more you try to force things in this game, the more "Mr. Par" tends to taunt you. Even the world's No. 1 player, Tiger Woods, was not immune to the afternoon blues. Woods shot a lackluster 1-under 71 in the afternoon, after finding himself 2 over through five holes.
There were players that posted solid afternoon rounds. Brian Vranesh and Vaughn Taylor shot a pair of 7-under 65s. Chris DiMarco, Troy Matteson, and 2010 Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin all posted 6-under 66s. Look for a combination of these players to make quick climbs up the leaderboard on Friday morning. Perhaps they will even pass Steve Lowery and John Senden before the two at the top tee off. These players will have perfect greens in the morning and the confidence of the previous day's round. Remember, it's a marathon of 72 holes, not a sprint. However, you must get under the 36-hole cutline to complete the marathon.
Tiger Woods and John Daly, possibly the two most recognizable players in the world today, were paired in back-to-back groupings in Round 1. The gallery was immense for both groups, yet neither player could capture the momentum into the deep red numbers. I have never seen two players with such different approaches to competition playing so close together, and all the talent and experience unable to carry the day. I continue to look to Woods to shoot a strong round on Friday, and he will need it to make the cut and enter a position to compete on the weekend. As for Daly, who told me his pants in Round 1 were called "shagadelic," I think he will continue to struggle this week. Daly just seems to be somewhere else. He has always had a swashbuckling attack attitude, but the sloppiness around the greens and lack of discipline off the tee are attacking his confidence, and that is always a sad thing to witness. As for Long John, I hope I am wrong; it would not be the first time.
The great scoring will continue in the second round. With so many reachable par 4s and 5s sitting there for the taking and the weather cooperating, look to Neal Lancaster as a dark horse pick. I walked and talked with Lancaster down the stretch in the first round, and the veteran is loose and knows how to score. Also, Taylor has a new Taylor Made putter that he really feels comfortable with, and I know he is hungry for his third PGA TOUR win.
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