Bay Hill Invitational
Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Orlando,
Florida
19th - 22nd March 1998

Par 72 Prize Money $2 million

First Round Report

First Round Scores

First round finally completed with Woods leading

Orlando, Florida, 20th March 1998 - Tiger Woods needed just 90 minutes Friday to show that his game is hitting on all cylinders. It could take a marathon weekend, however, to convert that into his first PGA Tour victory since July.

Woods completed his first round in the rain-delayed Bay Hill Invitational with four birdies on the last seven holes, giving him an 8-under-par 64 and a one-stroke lead over Robert Damron, who didn't play a shot Friday.

Ernie Els birdied five of the first 10 holes, but had eight pars the rest of the way for a 67, tied with Steve Stricker. Els played the last three holes after a rain delay of three hours, 30 minutes.

John Daly was at 68 and now has played 20 of his last 22 rounds at par or better. Davis Love III and Vijay Singh were among those also at 4-under.

The first round has been suspended four times since Thursday, when Damron was one of only eight players to finish. Tournament officials won't decide what to do until after the second round is completed Saturday, although 36 holes on the final day is possible.

"I'd like to see us get all 72 holes in. I definitely don't want to come back and play this in August," Woods said, alluding to players having to return to Pebble Beach the day after the PGA Championship to finish that tournament.

Woods may be playing the most consistent golf of his young career, even if he doesn't have a PGA victory to show for it.

He has been on the heels of the leaders in all four of his final rounds this year -- a tied for second at the Mercedes, third in San Diego, a playoff loss in Los Angeles and ninth two weeks ago at Doral.

This time, the strongest field so far this year will be chasing Woods.

His 64 tied the first-round scoring record at Bay Hill, last matched by Tom Byrum in 1990, and was Woods' best start since going 64-64 at the Byron Nelson Classic in May, which he went on to win.

"I haven't been able to do that in a while," said Woods, whose best start this year was a 68 in Los Angeles. "I feel like I'm playing well, making some putts. Lately, I've been hitting the ball well and just not making the putts."

That wasn't a problem at Bay Hill, where the rain ruined tournament host Arnold Palmer's plans to have firm, fast greens.

"They were sponges," Woods said. "They're still rolling good, but they're a little slow."

When Woods resumed his round Friday morning, he had a 40-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 12th hole. He two-putted for birdie, then hit a 9-iron into 15 feet for a birdie at No. 13.

A 3-wood off the tee on the 15th -- Woods missed only two fairways in the first round -- set up a 6-iron that landed 18 inches in front of the hole and stopped 7 feet behind it for another birdie, and he two-putted for birdie on the 517-yard 16th hole after hitting a 2-iron in from 243 yards with a breeze in his face.

But the key hole, and key to his chances this weekend, came at the par-3 17th. Woods pulled a 5-iron into the wet, shaggy rough right of the green, chipped 7 feet past and holed the putt to save par.

On Thursday, he stubbed a chip on No. 18 and saved par with a 15-foot putt.

"Those are the putts you have to make to keep rounds going, and I haven't been able to do that," Woods said.

Woods' only win this year came in Thailand, when he came from eight strokes off the lead in the final round to catch Els and beat him in a playoff.

"Maybe the tides will turn now," Els said. "He normally comes from behind, so maybe we can come from behind for a change. Let's see what he does now from the front."

Els was relieved at his solid start. He had a win, two seconds and two thirds in five straight starts overseas, then missed the cut at the Honda Classic last week.

"I need another three rounds like this to really get some confidence," he said.

Lee Westwood is six shots behind Woods with a 2-under-par round of 70 and one shot further back is Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Woosnam. Nick Faldo shot a one-over 73 with Sandy Lyle two-over on 74.

The Bay Hill Club and Lodge course measures 7,196 yards.

First prize is $360,000.