Golf: Turner's Open hopes hanging by a thread

By DAVID LEGGAT

WELLINGTON - Greg Turner's hopes of seeing out the New Zealand Open hang by the width of a tendon in his left forearm.

The tournament's top-ranked player was taking the Paraparaumu Beach course apart in the first round of the Open yesterday before stabbing pains in his arm contributed to a late tumble which cost him four strokes on his final three holes to slip from 4-under to finish even-par 71.

That left him five shots behind first-round leader Brett Rumford, the West Australian who turned professional at the beginning of the year, while six players - four Australians plus New Zealanders Stephen Scahill and Takapuna teaching professional Rhys Bishop - are at 4-under.

Turner, chasing a third Open title, said he was optimistic of starting the second round today, but faced a restless night weighing up whether to risk longer-term damage.

"I had a bit of a problem on Monday but didn't have any problems Tuesday or Wednesday, then it flared up this morning," he said. "I took a couple of anti-inflammatories and it disappeared for a while, but came back in the last three or four holes."

Initially Turner thought the problem was in his wrist, but medical advice is that it stems from the forearm. It is complicated because he feels the pain on his backswing.

"If it came through impact you can grit your teeth because by the time you flinch it's too late. But on the way down is not a good place to flinch."

Turner, playing with popular Australian Peter O'Malley and 18-year-old Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley, had four birdies in his first 10 holes and was still 4-under as he stepped on to the seventh tee - his 16th hole.

Immediately after his tee shot he wrung his left hand in pain. The ball landed in deep rough out to the right, he had to take a penalty drop, three-putted and took a seven. He three-putted the next hole and dropped a further shot on his last.

"This didn't cause me to three-putt three times today but it does throw you out of pace."

The pity of it was that Turner was playing particularly well, notwithstanding his discomfort, and seemed set to mount a strong title bid. He had shown his class with some superb approach shots, but knew he had big problems near the finish.

"When I saw the ball on the seventh and found it unplayable, I said to Brian [his caddy and brother], 'if we can get in the house and take three pars it'll be a good result'."

He may get to the tee today, but insisted he would not take any chances.

"I did that once before and it put me out for three months."

His dry humour did not desert him yesterday. Having arrived at the Open with his preferred laid-back lead-up, Turner, asked whether he had felt any pain in the arm before last Monday, replied that he hadn't because "I don't use that hand to fish with."