|
 Bjorn, who was at 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to
save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the
final hole after a misjudged approach shot.
"A few things happened on the golf course today that really tested
me," Bjorn said. "I three-putted the first — I thought the greens
were a lot firmer than they were early on."
American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. He
and Matt Kuchar led the overall team standings for the U.S. after 36
holes, with a three-stroke margin over Denmark and seven over Japan
and Australia.
Tied for third in the individual stroke-play competition were Jason
Day of Australia (70) and Ricardo Santos of Portugal (69). Kuchar
was in a four-way tie for fifth after a 68, five strokes behind
Bjorn.
Adam Scott, who has won the Australian PGA and Australian Masters
over the past two weeks, shot a 68 and was nine strokes behind Bjorn
in a group with Graeme McDowell (71).
There was no 36-hole cut in the 60-man field that includes 26
two-man national teams and eight individual golfers.
Bjorn shot 66 on Thursday and shared the first-round lead with
Streelman.
"I patiently worked my way into the round, maybe not as good as
yesterday," Bjorn said. "But I played some really good stuff on the
back nine, and I've got to take that with me into the weekend."
Streelman, representing the U.S. for the first time, birdied his
first four holes but gave three strokes back with a bogey on the
eighth and a double-bogey on the ninth, blading a shot out of the
bunker. "I kind of just did what you are supposed to on
those first four holes," Streelman said.
"I hit it in the wrong part of the golf course on No. 8 and No.
9, and Royal Melbourne will bite you when you do that, which is
what makes it such an awesome golf course."
[to top of second column] |
He made a four-foot par save on No. 17, and again on 18.
"That was about a cup-out, just-breathe-on-it type of putt, and
it's one of those when I hit it I knew I had made it," he said
of his putt on the 17th.
Streelman, playing Royal Melbourne for the first time, said he
couldn't believe the quickness of the greens.
"It is the same feel of Augusta on a weekend — actually I
wouldn't know because I haven't made a cut in the Masters yet.
So Friday afternoon at Augusta it feels like," he said.
Streelman said despite the change in format here, in which
individual stroke-play is being accentuated with $7 million in
prize money, with only $1 million for the team component, he
wants to win the World Cup team trophy for the U.S.
Kuchar and Gary Woodland won the last team event in 2011 in
China. The individual portion of the tournament was introduced
this year to mirror the format and rankings system which will be
used in 2016 when golf makes its return to the Olympics at Rio
de Janeiro.
"I am definitely keeping my eye on that team score," Streelman
said. "I know he (Kuchar) will be there for me and then
hopefully I can continue to play well and we can bring it home."
Day, who birdied No. 15 and then made three good pars to finish
the round, didn't have any luck on the greens.
"I had three lip-outs, pretty harsh ones, but definitely happy
with shooting 1 under," Day said. "Being out here at Royal
Melbourne with how hard and fast the greens are, it can
definitely go south pretty quick."
[Associated
Press; DENNIS PASSA, AP Sports Writer]
Copyright 2013 The Associated
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