Hart on top as others close in...
By Bob Baum, Associated Press
Tour News
02 February 2007 09:35
Dudley Hart lives in Buffalo and is a big hockey fan, so it was fitting that he thrived in the chilly opening round of the FBR Open.
The 38-year-old New Yorker, a two-time PGA Tour winner whose most recent victory was at the 2000 Honda Classic, shot a 7-under 64 for a one-stroke advantage atop a crowded leaderboard Thursday
Twelve players were within two shots of the lead on a TPC Scottsdale course softened by a day of rain Wednesday.
Usually, big hitters dominate on the wide-open, par-71, 7,216-yard layout, but the damp weather leveled the playing field.
"It was not a typical desert day obviously,'' Hart said, ``but it turned out well for me.''
Paul Azinger was one of a half-dozen at 65. Billy Mayfair, who lives an easy 8-iron shot from the TPC clubhouse, was among another six at 66.
Starting early in the morning when it was especially cold and windy, Hart birdied eight holes and bogeyed one.
Playing the back nine first, he bogeyed the par-5, 552-yard 15th, then reeled off birdies on five of the next seven holes.
"Well, the course was a little softer obviously after the rain yesterday,'' Hart said, 2and that always helps our cause when you can kind of throw the ball at the pin and not worry about it getting away from you too much.''</p>
The temperature was in the 40s when he arrived at the course to practice for his 8:35 a.m. tee time.
"Dark, cold, couldn't see the ground, it was early,'' Hart said. "For me, I'm no spring chicken anymore, and it takes about 10 wedges for me to feel like I can hit it over 60 yards. So this morning, it was more like a whole bag of wedges.''
LITTLE BITS... Among the crowd was former President George H.W. Bush, who attended as a guest of the FBR Open. He toured various parts of the course via golf cart. ... Defending champion J.B. Holmes, who won as a rookie a year ago in only his fourth PGA event, was at 3-over 74. ... Fred Funk, coming off a victory Sunday in Hawaii in the Champions Tour's Turtle Bay Championship, opened with a 70. ... Attendance was 72,950 and is expected to swell to more than 150,000 for Saturday's third round.
PICTURES: Dudley Hart hits his drive from the ninth tee box during the first round of the FBR Open golf tournament yesterday and Azinger gets frustrated after a missed putt.
