Bubba Goes Back To White Ball & Back Into The Lead Day One Shenzhen International.

What has not been mentioned in any report following the first round of the rain delayed Shenzhen International is that Bubba Watson contested the round using a white golf ball.

Where was the pink golf balls he has been using this season after having signed a deal with Korean based ball manufacturer, Vovik

Of course, Watson is also looking for a first victory since February last season and in capturing the Northern Trust Open.

The double Masters winner posted a six under par 66 before just under two hours play was lost in the afternoon due to the threat of lightning at Genzon Golf Club.

South African duo Dean Burmester and Haydn Porteous, Frenchman Grégory Bourdy, Thai Thongchai Jaidee and German Maximilian Kieffer each share second place on five under.

Double Masters winning Bubba Watson leads by one shot at the Shenzhen International. Image … European Tour.

Another South African, Dylan Frittelli, was then in the clubhouse at four under, with Dane Thorbjørn Olesen, Spaniard Eduardo de la Riva and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger at the same mark with holes left to complete when play resumes at 0630 on Friday.

Watson has been one of the headline acts in each of the first three editions of the event and was looking to improve on his best finish of a tie for eighth last season.

An early bogey threatened to scupper those plans but that was the only blemish of his round as he set the early target.

“You know anytime you shoot six under, shoot in the 60s, you’re happy with it but every golfer can pick and choose what they wish they did better, but all in all a great day and a good start,” he said.

“I just made putts today. Most of my swings and most of my shots were really good today and there were no bad swings in there so it just made the score better.

“The more you play the golf course, the more you are going to learn it and get better at it and, like the saying is, this is our home course, so after two years of playing it I should know by now.”

Watson’s bogey came on the 12th after starting on the tenth but the two-time Masters Tournament champion bounced back with birdies on the 13th, 14th and 16th to turn in 34.

A birdie at the first was followed by an approach to eight feet on the par five second setting up an eagle that catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard.

He was joined by both Burmester and Porteous at the summit after a run of six pars – including a save after hitting the pin on the seventh – but a final gain on the ninth put him alone in the driving seat.

Porteous had a roller coaster of a round containing just four pars as he looks to continue his improving recent form after missing his first six cuts of the season.

The 22 year old parred the first but made four birdies and two bogeys in his next six holes before a double-bogey on the ninth saw him turn in 36.



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