Golf: Waite in contention with confidence boosting 66

WASHINGTON - New Zealander golfer Grant Waite put himself in contention with a first round 66 at the Booz Allen Classic in Potomac, Maryland on Thursday.

Returning to the scene of his greatest win on the United States PGA tour in 1993 when it was known as the Kemper Open, Waite shot a round containing 6 birdies and one bogey to be tied for ninth place, four shots behind American Ben Curtis.

Fellow New Zealander Phil Tataurangi was in joint 108th poition after posting a 73 on the par-71 Avenel Tour Players' Championship course.

Curtis fired a blistering nine-under-par 62, his lowest score on the PGA tour, to take early control.

Despite missing a nine-footer at the last for his sixth birdie in a row, Curtis finished the opening round at the TPC at Avenel one stroke clear of compatriot Jeff Gove with Argentina's Jose Corceres third, a fnother stroke behind.

Curtis, whose only PGA Tour title came with his surprise victory in the 2003 British Open at Royal St George's, made a fast start with four consecutive birdies from the par-five second.

Out in four-under 32, he then produced a five-birdie run from the par-five 13th to eclipse his previous lowest round on the PGA Tour by two strokes.

Most of the game's leading players are taking a break after last week's US Open at Winged Foot.

- REUTERS