O'Hern sets pace with opening 64

Ian Woosnam's hopes of another victory here suffered an early blow as he struggled to a 1-over-par 73 on Thursday in the first round of the Caltex Singapore Masters.

Australian Nick O'Hern broke a course-record with an 8-under-par 64 to take the lead. Christophe Pottier of France is second after carding a 65 and Carlos Rodiles of Spain is third after shooting a 66.

Woosnam has not played in Singapore since winning the 1996 Johnnie Walker Classic by defeating Scotland's Andrew Coltart at the third hole of a sudden-death playoff at Tanah Merah, literally across the road from the Laguna National course, which is hosting the $900,000 event.

With the top 64 players in the world golf rankings at the World Matchplay in California, Woosnam was one of the pre-tournament favorites despite not playing competitively for more than three months.

The 43-year-old Welshman found it hard to shake off the rustiness, however, as he carded two bogeys and just one birdie and struggling to get to grips with a new set of irons.

"I'm not playing well at all," said the former U.S. Masters champion. "I struggled with my irons, everything was off. The grips felt a little hard and I'll have to go and change the grips. I am rusty, but I'll change the grips and that may make it feel better."

South African Nick Faldo birdied the final hole for a 68 while protege Nick Dougherty completed a promising round of 69.

"I played really well and made just one mistake when I hit it in the water off the tee at the last and did well to make bogey," said 19-year-old Liverpudlian Dougherty, who finished third at the qualifying school in November to earn his card for this season.

"That was the only fairway I missed and it was not even close to finding grass. It should have been a better score. I was 3-under par after six holes and I'd already missed two putts from eight feet.

"But I'm pleased because I played poorly in practice, a bit rusty after my week off, and overall I'm quite happy with the round. It was probably the best I've hit it this year from tee to green."

In the absence of coach Pete Cowen, a tip from roommate Mark Pilkington helped Dougherty rediscover the form that saw him finish eighth in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth.

The Walker Cup player was devastated not to secure an invite to play in the Heineken Classic in Melbourne the following week, and hopes the same will not happen again as he tries to land an invite to compete in Malaysia next week.

Faldo has not won an individual tournament since the 1997 Nissan Open, but has been encouraged by top 10 finishes in his first two events of 2002.

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