Golf: Emotional time for golfers in Houston event

HOUSTON - A grief-stricken field of the United States PGA Tour's top golfers played through their tears at the Tour Championship in Houston yesterday, getting in 27 holes as they struggled with the loss of United States Open champion Payne Stewart, who died in a plane crash on Tuesday.

"I tried to find ways to block it out for the first couple of holes, but I gave up and just accepted I was going to think about him all day long," said Davis Love, who held a one-shot lead over Tiger Woods after 27 holes.

The extra nine holes were played so that most, if not all the players can travel to Orlando to attend a formal memorial service for Stewart today. Another 27 holes will be played tomorrow after the day off.

The morning began with an extremely emotional memorial service for Stewart at the first tee, attended by the entire 29-player field and led by his good friend Tom Lehman, who had to stop several times to compose himself during his tribute.

"It was just a crazy range of emotions," said Love, who shot a seven-under 99 (64-35). "When the plane flew over with a banner about Payne, it took me 10 minutes to get ready to putt.

"You're not supposed to play golf with tears in your eyes."

Woods shot 100 (67-33) and was alone in second place at six under, while Fred Funk (66-35), Steve Pate (67-34) and Carlos Franco of Paraguay (65-36) were all tied for third at 101, five under.

Woods added some late-round drama when he attempted to slash out a shot from the rough on the 15th hole with his ball resting against a tree trunk and in front of a rock.

Woods, the world No 1 who leads the 1999 money-list on which Stewart was third, appeared to have injured his left wrist when he hit the rock and was wincing in pain during the final four holes.

"It's not my wrist at all, I just pinched a nerve in my arm, but they [PGA Tour doctors] will get it fixed and I'll be fine," Woods said.

Despite the injury, he finished his final four holes bogey, par, par, birdie, landing a brilliant approach on the 18th hole to three feet for his closing birdie.

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JEREZ - Retief Goosen, of South Africa, sizzled over Montecastillo's sodden front nine holes and eased his way to a 10-under 62 to take the first-round lead in the Volvo Masters.

Goosen eagled the ninth with an eight metre putt to complete the front half in 29, seven under par.

After he birdied the 11th, Goosen felt that a sub-60 score - never achieved in Europe - might be on the cards, but a three-putt par at the long 12th brought him down to earth.

Further birdies at the 16th and 18th left him three shots clear of Welshman Phillip Price, who had six birdies and an eagle.

Colin Montgomerie, who looks to be heading for a seventh successive European Order of Merit title, shot a two-under 70.