Hart leads at windy Phoenix

Dudley Hart withstood gusting winds to card a four-under-par 67 for a one-shot first round lead at the Phoenix Open on Thursday before play was suspended due to darkness.

Regarded as the rowdiest stop on the PGA Tour, it was the howling winds that made most of the noise on the Tournament Players Club course, keeping scores in check as only 20 players managed to break par.

Fierce winds forced a suspension of play for 30 minutes and afternoon tee times were pushed back 90 minutes while workmen poured water on the lightning quick greens.

American Hart produced a superb round in the testing conditions.

His 67 included an eagle, three birdies and single bogey to give him a narrow lead over compatriots Stewart Cink and Hunter Mahan.

Charles Warren and Heath Slocum were also at three-under when played was stopped.

"If you would have told me I would only make one bogey out there today before I started, I would have taken it," Hart said.

"You don't want to finish that way, but you're bound to hit a ball or two on a day like today in the wrong spot, and I hit one in the wrong spot on number nine and it cost me."

World number one Vijay Singh, twice a winner here was among the early starters buffeted by the winds, happily settling for an even par 71.

"Normally it blows and the rains are coming down, but this was very unusual, clear skies, beautiful weather, but it's just so windy," Singh said.

The Fijian already has one victory under his belt this season -- the Sony Open in Hawaii -- but he will be keen to cement his position as the game's leading player with his predecessor Tiger Woods back on the prowl.

"I think the greens were a little too fast, as well," he added.

"I struggled all day. I wasn't hitting the ball the way I wanted to or the way I was yesterday, but I managed to scrape around, make a lot of par saves.

"That's what you've got to do when you're not playing well, you've got to make pars."

Defending champion Jonathan Kaye got off to an unsteady start in carding a two-over 73, while 2003 U.S. Masters winner Mike Weir and three-time winner here Mark Calcavecchia slumped to a three-over 74.

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman was also stuck at three-over with two to play.

U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson, winner in 1996 and local favourite having attended nearby Arizona State University, enjoyed plenty of support but could not get his game untracked in the difficult conditions battling to a two-over with two holes to complete on Friday morning.

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