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Watson fires 63 for early lead in Hawaii

Fri 22nd, January 2010

Kaupulehu-Kona, HI (Sports Network) - Tom Watson got off to a flying start Friday as he fired a nine-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship.

Watson, who was winless on the Champions Tour last year, is coming off a victory at the Wendy's Champions Skins Game as he teamed with Jack Nicklaus to win that unofficial event.

Fred Couples made his Champions Tour debut Friday and fared very well as he carded a seven-under 65. He shares second place with former British Open champion Tom Lehman.

Reigning Senior PGA Champion Michael Allen posted a six-under 66 at Hualalai Golf Club and was joined in fourth place by Nick Price, Dan Forsman and Phil Blackmar.

After three straight pars to start his round, Watson made eagle on the par- five fourth. He converted back-to-back birdie chances from the sixth to move to minus-four.

Around the turn, Watson sank a six-footer for birdie on 10 and came right back with a 12-foot birdie effort on 11. He made it three in a row as he rolled in a 22-footer for birdie on the par-three 12th.

Watson briefly led by one, but parred his next two holes and was caught in the lead by Lehman. Watson regained the lead as he sank an eight-footer for birdie on 15.

He followed with a kick-in birdie on 16 to push his lead to two. Watson parred the final two holes and owns the first-round lead for the first time on the Champions Tour since April 2008.

"I've been here for a good 10 days so I've adjusted to the time change and the conditions," said Watson. "The deal today was there was no wind. I made a lot of putts today and you have to do that to shoot nine-under."

Couples opened with a birdie, but gave that stroke back with a bogey on No. 3. He poured in three birdies on the next four holes to move up the leaderboard.

He made eagle on the 10th before sinking a four-footer for birdie on 14 to get to six-under. Couples posted his final birdie at the last, where he sank an 11-foot birdie try.

"I had a blast today. When it is your first tournament of the year, you want to watch guys hit the ball really sound, and we putted okay today," Couples said referring to playing partner Price. "Seven-under on any course is great."

Lehman carded four birdies in a five-hole stretch from the third. However, the hole that he didn't birdie, the par-three fifth, Lehman faltered to a triple- bogey.

Like Couples, Lehman made eagle on the par-five 10th. He followed with three consecutive birdies from the 11th to join Watson in the lead at minus-six.

After Watson birdied the 12th, Lehman responded with a birdie on 16 to regain a piece of the lead. However, he finished at minus-seven after making par on the final two holes.

NOTES: Couples was not the only player making his tour debut...U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin also made his first start on the senior circuit and opened with a 67 that left him tied for eighth with four other players...Defending champion Bernhard Langer bogeyed two of the last four holes to close a round of four-under 68 that left him tied for 13th.