Australian shares lead with Haas at 4 under
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. – It was a spectacular day of aesthetics at Aronimink Country Club — a brilliant sun, gentle breezes, an immaculate golf course and the gorgeous swing of Adam Scott.
Few players have been blessed with such a pure motion as the 30-year-old from Australia. And few have been cursed with such a balky putting stroke. But for a day, Scott managed to keep his long putter from acting up on his way to a 4-under-par 66 and a share of the lead with Hunter Haas in the first round of the AT&T National.
Play continues through Sunday in the fifth annual event, which returns to Congressional Country Club next year.
Aronimink, in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, strutted its best stuff Thursday, playing firm and fast. Many players remarked that the Donald Ross-designed course played like a traditional U.S. Open venue, certainly tougher than Congressional two weeks ago.
“My only comment about the U.S. Open was they obviously didn’t get the greens where they really would have liked them,” Scott said. “And here I think they’ve got the greens probably where the U.S. Open would have liked them.”
Scott’s 66 tied his best round this season. The seven-time PGA Tour winner emerged from a prolonged slump last year, capturing the Texas Open. Since then, he has five more top 10s, including his best finish in a major, a tie for second at the Masters.
A switch to the long putter has helped Scott gain confidence on the greens. A switch to Tiger Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, also has provided a boost.
“He might have a future one day, this guy,” Scott said with a smile. “He’s got a wealth of knowledge, and I’m trying to tap as much of that as I can while he’s on the bag.”
Scott started fast, making three birdies on his first six holes, two on putts from 25 feet. He completed his round with a 15-footer for birdie at No. 18. Scott’s lone bogey came on a three-putt from the fringe at No. 10.
“The way they’ve got it set up right now is, I think, perfect,” Scott said. “It’s very fair, and it’s nice to see it fairly firm.”
By contrast, Haas is a 34-year-old who is seeking his first PGA Tour win. He has bounced between the PGA and Nationwide tours for a decade. Haas made four straight birdies on his first nine after teeing off at No. 10.
“It’s not fun,” Haas said of his journeyman career. “My first year out you could have hit me on the back of the head and it still wouldn’t have woke me up. Went through a lot of caddies. Went through a lot of learning.”
It’s an eclectic leader board. One back are a pair of long-hitting PGA Tour rookies, Jhonattan Vegas and Kyle Stanley, and a pair of tour fixtures with one victory each, Dean Wilson and Joe Ogilvie. Ten players are two shots behind, including Vijay Singh, Charles Howell III, Justin Leonard, Rickie Fowler and Robert Garrigus.
“Every player absolutely loves this place,” Garrigus said. “You know where you can’t hit it, and you know where you can. If you hit it there, you’re rewarded.”
