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Austin: 'A Terrible Finish'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 20, 2009

PALM HARBOR - Woody Austin has never missed a cut at a PGA Tour event he's played in at Innisbrook. Then again, Austin has never really been in contention in any of those events, either.

And that's why the Chamberlain High grad wasn't too pleased with the way he closed his opening round Thursday at the Transitions Championship, because Austin had a chance to finish Day 1 among the leaders.

After climbing near the top of the leaderboard by playing his first 14 holes on the Copperhead Course 4 under, Austin made consecutive bogeys at Nos. 16 and 17 and missed a 13-foot birdie putt at 18 to close with a 2-under 69. That left Austin in a tie for 15th, four shots off leader Jim Furyk.

"Just a terrible finish," the 45-year-old Austin said. "I'm pretty ticked off at myself."

Austin did, however, have the best day among golfers in the field with local ties. Clearwater's John Huston finished at 1 under, while fellow Chamberlain grad Ryuji Imada, the runner-up to Sean O'Hair at last year's event, and Clearwater's Greg Kraft each shot 1 over.

"Under par on this golf course is good, so I like that," said Austin, who had five birdies and three bogeys in his round. "But when you have a chance to shoot a low score on this course, you can't throw it away like that."

BASHFUL PRINCE MAKES IMPRESSION

Ryo Ishikawa, the 17-year-old Japanese sensation, certainly didn't take long Thursday to make an impression.

Ishikawa, who carries the nickname "Bashful Prince," started his round birdie-birdie and finished with a 2-under 69 after adding a birdie at No. 11 and a bogey at No. 17.

Ishikawa, speaking through an interpreter, said one of the keys for him was he was much more relaxed Thursday compared to his PGA Tour debut at the Northern Trust Open a month ago. Ishikawa likened his comfort level to the tension he feels while playing on the Japanese Tour, which he said is "a good tension."

SHOOTING STRAIGHT IS AMES' WAY

Stephen Ames admits he's not a bomber, but rather a golfer who tends to keep the ball in play more than anything else. So it should come as no surprise that Ames relatively tamed the Copperhead Course, known for demanding accuracy.

Ames hit 10 of 13 fairways and 14 of 18 greens on his way to a 5-under 66, which left him in sole possession of second place behind Furyk. Ames birdied three of his first five holes - Nos. 1, 3 and 5 - and added three more birdies on the back nine. His lone bogey came at the par-4 16th, which was one of the three fairways he missed.

"This golf course, very much of the emphasis is on keeping it in the fairway," Ames said, "and 10 of 13 fairways is a lot for the day."

CHIP SHOTS

David Berganio Jr. withdrew from the field before Thursday's first round began and was replaced by Derek Fathauer. ... Fred Funk withdrew after completing an opening round 78.

Adam Adkins

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