Page 22 - AT

A22 SPORTS
Friday 25 OctOber 2019
Woods shrugs off shaky start

to lead in Japan

By JIM ARMSTRONG
AP Sports Writer
INZAI CITY, Japan (AP) —
Tiger Woods couldn't have
scripted a better scenario
for the PGA Tour's first tour-
nament in Japan despite
his shaky start.
After a layoff from ar-
throscopic surgery on his
left knee two months ago,
Woods shot a 6-under 64
on Thursday to share the
first-round lead at the Zozo
Championship.
Woods was tied with Gary Australia's Minjee Lee watches her shot on the 10th hole
during the first round of the LPGA tournament at LPGA
Woodland, with local fa- International Busan in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 24,
vorite Hideki Matsuyama Tiger Woods of the United States gestures after his tee shot on 2019.
the 9th hole during the first round of the Zozo Championship PGA
a stroke behind. They had Tour at the Accordia Golf Narashino country club in Inzai, east of Associated Press
to wait another day to get Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019.
back on the course after Associated Press Australian Minjee Lee
heavy rain washed out start in his 23rd season on golf here."
play Friday. the PGA Tour, needing one Woodland had six birdies, takes 1-stroke lead
Things didn't start well for victory to reach 82 wins including one on the par-5
Woods when he sent his and tie the career record 18th. at LPGA tournament
opening shot into the wa- held by Sam Snead. "I played well from top to
ter on No. 10 and bogeyed Woods last played in an of- bottom," Woodland said.
the first three holes. ficial tournament in Japan "I drove the ball well and BUSAN, South Korea (AP) Kang, whose last bogey
"The start I got off to wasn't in 2006 at the Dunlop Phoe- anytime I can control the — Minjee Lee overcame came on the second
very good, I hit bad shot nix, where he lost in a play- ball on the greens from the changing weather condi- hole of her third round in
after bad shot ... and the off to Padraig Harrington. fairway, that adds up to a tions at the Buick Ladies Shanghai.
next thing you know, things He won the Dunlop Phoe- pretty good day." Championship to take "I didn't attack a lot of
aren't looking so good," nix the two previous years. Matsuyama led early with a one-stroke lead with pins — not like me — but
Woods said. As pleased as Woods was four birdies on the front a bogey-free 6-under I just tried to hit the fair-
But the Masters champion with his day, the Japanese nine, but faltered with a 66 after the first round of ways, the greens, and try
quickly found his game at fans couldn't have been bogey on the final hole. the LPGA tournament in to keep dry."
the Accordia Golf Nara- happier. The American is "I am just one stroke behind South Korea. Ko and Lee6 also went
shino Country Club, with hugely popular in Japan the leader so think I am in a "Sometime we had sun- bogey-free on Thursday
birdies on four of his next six and drew the biggest gal- good position," Matsuyama shine, wind, rain ... we while Seung Yeon Lee,
holes. He had five birdies leries Thursday. said. "Tomorrow I need to had a little bit of every- playing in just her second
on the final seven holes. "The people here in Japan minimize my mistakes." thing today," the 23-year- LPGA Tour event, made
"After the start, the ball- have come out and sup- The Zozo tournament is part old Australian said Thurs- one bogey to go with
striking was better, the ported this event," Woods of three tournaments that day under an umbrella four birdies and an eagle
putting was really good," said. "It's been a lot of fun make up the PGA Tour's at the end of her round at No. 18. Seven players
Woods said. "I was hitting to play in front of them Asia Swing, including the as the showers persisted. were tied for sixth at 4 un-
a lot of good putts, the ball again, I haven't done it in a CJ Cup in South Korea won "But whenever I had to der, including Shanshan
was rolling tight which was while. I've missed it. They've last week by Justin Thomas make up-and-downs, I Feng.
nice. " always been fantastic with and the HSBC Champions was able to get up-and- "Somehow when I play
Woods is making his first golf and supported their in Shanghai next week.q down." in the wind, I'm actually
Danielle Kang, who won more focused and more
last week's tournament at patient," said Feng. "Espe-
Wawrinka beats Tiafoe, sets up Basel Shanghai, was in a group cially we knew that it was

tied for second with Jin going to rain today, so we
QF against Federer Young Ko, Jeongeun prepared. We brought
Lee6 and Seung Yeon our rain gear, umbrella,
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) fierce backhand passing berto Bautista Agut ad- Lee on the LPGA Interna- and extra towels to try to
— Stan Wawrinka set up shot, the two men hugged vanced to their 13th quar- tional Busan course. keep ourselves dry. So I
an all-Swiss quarterfinal at the net. Now aged 38 terfinals in 2019, joint best Minjee Lee birdied three think overall, I did a pretty
against Roger Federer by and 34, respectively, Feder- on the tour. of her opening nine holes good job."
outlasting Frances Tiafoe er and Wawrinka teamed Hard-serving American and added three more Lydia Ko and Nelly Kor-
6-3, 3-6, 7-5 at the Swiss In- up to win doubles gold for Reilly Opelka upset sixth- birdies on her final nine. da each shot 69, her sis-
doors on Thursday. Switzerland at the 2008 Bei- seeded David Goffin 6-7 Kang continued her ter Jessica Korda 71 and
Wawrinka saved two break jing Olympics. (4), 7-6 (4), 7-5 with the help strong play, carding her Morgan Pressel and Pau-
points when serving at 5-5 Wawrinka is playing Feder- of 29 aces. second consecutive bo- la Creamer had opening
in the decider, then con- er's hometown tournament In the deciding set, Opelka gey-free round. 74s.
verted his second match for the 14th time. They have used his one break point of "I stayed really patient It's the second stop on the
point after six deuces in the faced each other just once the match to force the only today. I knew there were LPGA Tour's Asian swing.
next game. in Basel, in a 2011 semifinal service break in any of the a lot of birdie opportuni- There are tournaments in
After the 48th-ranked Tiafoe won by Federer. five sets he has played in ties but a lot of mistakes Taiwan and Japan over
couldn't handle Wawrinka's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Ro- Basel this week.q that could happen," said the next two weeks.q