Defending champ Luke Donald was left with the bitter taste of three bogeys over his closing four holes on day one of the Tampa Bay Championship in Florida.
The World No. 3 was tied for the lead at four under par but proceeded to drop shots at his 15th, 17th and final holes where he failed to get up-and-down from a back bunker in a score of one-under par 70 in the bright but windy conditions.
World No. 3 Luke Donald points the finger on dropping three shots over his closing four holes. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I’m extremely disappointed right now as I played lovely golf for 16 of the 18 holes today, and really had it under control,” he said.
“It could have been six or seven under if a couple more putts had dropped but to finish like that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
“I played a couple of poor iron shots down the stretch but there is a lot of positives today and I’m excited about trying to build on those for tomorrow.”
Donald was a lot more talkative than double Major winning, Vijay Singh who shot a two under par 69 to be one from the lead near lunch in the $5.5m event.
Singh, who is believed to be facing a suspension over his use of a banned deer antler spray, was approached by Tour official, Doug Milne after his round and just for comments on his play.
“No, no comments,” was Singh’s polite reply as he headed to the practice putting green.
American Brian Harmon, who had teed off in the afternoon half of the draw, enjoyed the clubhouse lead with a four under par 67.
However it was compatriot Shawn Stefani, who teed off in the third last group of the day, who held the Copperhead course lead at five under par.
