Former Dubai Desert Classic
winner Richard Green fired his best round in more than a year to
earn a share of the lead after the first round of the Australian
PGA championship on Thursday.
Green, who beat Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam in a play-off to
win the 1997 Dubai tournament, carded an opening round of
five-under-par 67.
Fellow Australian David Hill joined Green after an
eagle-birdie finish.
They were one stroke clear of New Zealander Greg Turner and
Australia's Kim Felton.
Green's career has been in a tail spin since his
breakthrough in the Middle East two years ago.
He built himself a home with the money he made from that one
tournament but his game deteriorated before he rediscovered his
touch this year.
"When I won in Dubai I probably over-celebrated and ended up
riding on that for too long instead of getting on with the job
like most guys do," Green said.
"I expected to win all the time and it just doesn't happen.
There's a lot of good players out there and they've all got to
be treated with a bit of respect."
67 Richard Green, David Hill
68 Greg Turner (New Zealand), Kim Felton
69 John Senden, Paul Moloney, Shane Tait, Craig Warren, Martin
Doyle, Tony Mills, Brett Partridge, Marcus Cain, George
Serhan
70 Elliot Boult (New Zealand), Robert Allenby, Anthony Painter,
Chad Wright (U.S.), David Armstrong, Paul Davenport (New
Zealand), Per Haugsrud (Norway), Gavin Coles, Matthew King,
Tony Christie (New Zealand), Craig Hanson, Matthew Ecob.
