PACIFIC PALISADES, California - Tiger Woods' quick
start was nothing compared to that of England's Brian Davis.
Woods got his quest to regain the No. 1 ranking in the world off
to a good start, but it was the unheralded Davis who holds the
lead midway through the opening round of the $4.8 million Nissan
Open.
Woods had five birdies and a bogey over his first eight holes,
but back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 3 and 4 dropped him into a tie
for sixth at 3-under. With a finish of fourth or better, Woods
can regain the No. 1 world ranking.
Woods has finished in the top 20 in all seven of his
professional starts here and he placed second in 1998 and 1999.
But he has yet to win what he calls his hometown tournament.
Davis has yet to win on the PGA tour but is off to a scorching
start after opening his round with an eagle and recording four
birdies in five holes, beginning at No. 6.
At 6-under through 10 holes, Davis is a shot ahead of Ireland's
Darren Clarke, who had a hole-in-one at the par-3, 199-yard
sixth hole.
Two-time defending champion Mike Weir of Canada tees off later
in the afternoon.
The 7,247-yard, par-71 Riviera course is a popular stop and has
an impressive history of past champions. Golf legend Ben Hogan
christened the layout as "Hogan's Alley" by winning here three
times in 17 months. He captured the Los Angeles Open in 1947 and
1948 and the U.S. Open in 1948.
First prize is $864,000.
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