Australians dent US hopes of 4th title

Australians Stephen Leaney and Nick O'Hern sent record three times winners the United States to a 2-1 opening defeat in the 16-team Alfred Dunhill Cup on Thursday.

Only Tom Lehman, at 12, the highest-ranked American by far of an unseeded trio completed by John Daly and Larry Mize, tasted success with his 68-73 group four win over Peter O'Malley.

Leaney was in sparkling form and gave his opponent Daly little chance on the famous Old Course, scene of the American's British Open triumph in 1995.

But Daly, the self-confessed recovering alcoholic with a taste for gambling, has dropped to 424th in the world rankings.

In spite of his problems, Daly was worthy of his appearance and produced a typically entertaining two-under 70 with a mix of his massive long hitting and wonderful touch around the greens.

The former "Wild Thing" of golf had insisted on the eve of the event: "I've grown up and I don't do the things I used to. They don't appeal to me anymore."

Unfortunately for the twice major champion, Leaney took three strokes fewer.

The Australian looked in difficulty only once in the 18-hole stroke play confrontation, losing his ball in deep gorse off the tee at the 314 yards par four 12th. He promptly hit the green and holed out with his second ball.

Leaney said: It was a very sporting gesture from John because I played a provisional and then put the next to six feet. While John had every right to go into the bushes and try and find my first one, he didn't.

"I didn't want to find it and we didn't find it but it was a nice gesture for him to just forget about it because that proved to be a turning point in our match as I birdied the next three."

Leaney, beaten by Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal in last year's final, added: "I guess I get a bit more nervous representing Australia than competing in regular tournaments but it is nice to beat the Americans at something.~

Mize, U.S. Masters champion in 1987 but now ranked 126th, suffered a six-shot mauling after O'Hern stormed round in a seven-under 65.

South Africa enjoyed the same winning margin over France in group two -- thanks to world number two Ernie Els who broke a 1-1 deadlock.

Els produced an imperious performance in the closing match and was never in trouble against Thomas Levet. His impressive 68 gave him victory by six shots.

Els rescued the fourth seeds after team mates David Frost and Retief Goosen won and lost their respective matches.

Frost, aided by four successive birdies on the back nine, gave the South Africans a solid start by overcoming Jean-Francois Remesy with a 68 against 74.

But Lancome Trophy winner Goosen suffered a surprise two-shot defeat by little known Raphael Jacquelin. Jacquelin shot 70 to Goosen's 72.

The regular South African trio clinched victory in 1997 and 1998 and this year are looking to join the United States as the only triple winners of the one million pounds ($1.46 million) event. The victorious team on Sunday share a 300,000 pounds ($438,500) first prize.

Ireland collected the first scalp of the 16-team event by beating fifth seeds New Zealand 2-1 in the other group two match.

Des Smyth, one of only three players who competed in the inaugural 1985 cup, lost at the first extra hole against Greg Turner after the pair covered the first 18 in 69, but Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley both tasted success.

Ryder Cup player Harrington beat Grant Waite 68-71 then McGinley, Irish PGA championship winner at County Louth last week, overcame German Masters champion Michael Campbell by two shots.

Second seeds Argentina made a flying start by overcoming Japan 3-0 in group four.

The closest contest involved Angel Cabrera and Isao Aoki, the Japanese veteran losing by just one shot.

Spain, missing Sergio Garcia, opened their defence with a 3-0 triumph over China in group three.

Winners of the four-team round-robin groups qualify for the semifinals to be played on Sunday morning.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page