Golf: Expensive lie-in for Waite but Woods sets pace in Canada

Grant Waite had a day to forget when he was disqualified from the $US3.8 million ($8.84 million) Canadian Open before the start yesterday, after sleeping in.

A tournament organiser called him about 7 am local time after Waite, runner-up last year to Tiger Woods, failed to report. He was caught in the traffic, arrived six minutes after his 7.29 am tee-off time and was disqualified.

Steve Alker was the pick of the six other New Zealanders in the field, shooting a three-under 68, three off the pace set by four players, including Woods.

Left-handed amateur Gareth Paddison was on 70, Paul Devenport a further shot back, Frank Nobilo and Craig Perks on 72, and Phil Tataurangi on 73.

Woods shot a five-under 65 that put him in a tie with fellow Americans Jim McGovern, Matt Gogel and Michael Muehr.

They matched the course record for the 6859-yard Dick Wilson-designed layout, originally set by Jack Nicklaus in 1975 and tied four times since.

Among the group on 66 was the resurgent John Daly, fresh from his win in the BMW International Open near Munich. He was bogey-free, and has had just three in his last 90 holes.

* Greg Turner and Stephen Scahill shared the honours as the leading New Zealanders after the first day of the European Masters tournament at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.

Turner and Scahill carded four-under 67s to finish just two strokes behind Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez.

He led the field at six-under in the fog-delayed European Tour event.

Five players, including the Scottish duo of Dean Robertson and Gordon Brand jun, along with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, Sweden's Henrik Nystrom and Germany's Thomas Gogele, share second place at five-under.

Turner recorded four birdies in his round and Scahill highlighted his effort with an eagle three at the 10th hole.

Turner, who reiterated his desire not to contest January's New Zealand Open, continued his recent run of good form five days after ending with a 67 in the BMW International.

"I was 11 under in Germany, and though that was a long way from John Daly's winning 27-under, I'm hitting the ball sweetly," he said.

"It's still not my favourite venue, but you can't knock the scenery."

Turner said he had been in contact with organisers of the New Zealand Open, who are seeking to entice the former champion to compete in the January event at Paraparaumu.

But Turner remains adamant he will not change his stance, particularly after the release this week of ticket prices for the tournament.

He had protested at the high cost of the tickets and said it was a matter of principle.

"It's like they don't want me to have an opinion at all."

- NZPA