|
 |
 |
|
|
You are in: Special Events: 2001: USPGA |
|
|
|
Friday, 17 August, 2001, 19:20 GMT 20:20 UK
O'Meara claims course record
O'Meara (right) picks up tips from playing partner Garcia
Mark O'Meara became only the 19th player to card a round of 63 in the history of golf's Major championships with a record-breaking display on Friday.
The former US Masters and Open champion's seven-under par round was a new record for the Atlanta Athletic Club. The previous best mark of 64 had been set by Grant Waite in the first round of the USPGA on Thursday.
O'Meara bagged seven birdies - at the first, sixth and seventh in an outward 32 and then at 11, 12, 15 and 17 on his way back for 31 - and did not drop a single stroke.
"It's a thrill to come in and shoot a score like that," said the 44-year-old, who reached five-under 135 at the half-way stage. "Certainly I'm back in the championship a little bit. "People out there were yelling, 'Hey do it for the old guys'." Mickelson's repeat Fellow American Phil Mickelson was in even better shape than O'Meara after a second successive round of 66. Mickelson, who has never won a Major despite being in contention so often, continued to avoid the questionable decisions and disastrous shots that have plagued him in the past.
"Heading into the weekend, I'd like to try to separate myself a little bit." But Sergio Garcia, who went into the event as one of Europe's best hopes of victory, looked certain to miss the cut after slumping to a 75 for a two-round total of 143. The Spaniard's failure left him probably having to win the final Ryder Cup qualifying event in Munich to make an automatic spot in the European team. Otherwise he will have to rely on a wildcard selection from skipper Sam Torrance. "It was a bad day, especially after playing so well the last few weeks," he said. "I'm going back to Spain now." And there was to be no repeat of Thursday's fairytale scoring for New Zealander Waite. The overnight leader followed his 64 with a second-round 74 to slip to two under par.
|
|
  
Top USPGA stories now:
Links to more USPGA stories are at the foot of the page.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
 E-mail this story to a friend |
|
|
|
Links to more USPGA stories |
|
|
|
||
 |
||||
 |
|
Back to top
|
||
|
------------------------------------------------------------ BBC News >> | BBC Weather >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII | News Sources | Privacy |
