Kresge wants to be first-time winner at first-time tournament
August 29, 2003

NORTON, Mass. -- Cliff Kresge watched Ben Curtis and Shaun Micheel win majors this year with more than just a passing interest.

"When guys do that, that gives people like myself more incentive and more confidence that it could be done," Kresge said Friday after shooting a 6-under 65 in the first round of the inaugural Deutsche Bank Championship.

Kresge was the leader in the clubhouse for about an hour, until Justin Rose birdied No. 17 and eagled 18 to finish at 8 under. At the end of the day, Kresge was tied for second with Vijay Singh.

Kresge has never won a tournament -- like Curtis and Micheel before they picked up their majors. Kresge's best finish was a third in last year's B.C. Open, and he also finished sixth at the Western Open and 10th at the U.S. Open this year.

Now 76th on the money list with $677,727 this year, Kresge has his card wrapped up for next year. He won't miss having to qualify for the PGA Tour.

"I went to the Q School 11 times in a row," he said. "If I never have to go again, it would be fine for me."

PUTTER PUNS: Vijay Singh credited his putting proficiency to a new Bobby Grace model that replaced a Scotty Cameron in his bag.

"It should be called 'Amazing Grace,' " Singh said after finishing the first round at 6 under.

Singh made six birdies, and only one of the putts was from more than 8 feet -- a 12-footer on the par-3 third. That left him at 6 under, tied for second.

"I really did nothing bad today," he said. "My game is really solid right now."

BEND IT LIKE WILLIS: Garrett Willis had the putt of the day when he made a 70-footer on No. 11, putting it up a hill far to the right before the ball did a left turn and came back down to the hole.

Willis threw both hands in the air and then pumped a fist after the birdie on No. 11 dropped him to 3 under. He parred the next six holes before making a 16-footer for eagle on 18 to improve to 5 under and move into a tie for fourth.

It was his second eagle of the day, having also knocked in a 9-foot putt on the second hole.

SPECIAL GUEST: Brad Faxon was on the putting green and needed someone to give him a ride to the first tee. He saw a volunteer, but she already was booked.

She was going to the gate to get Faxon's 94-year-old grandfather.

"Go get him," Faxon said.

Raymond Faxon, who turns 95 next month, watched his grandson play two holes. Faxon was 1 under through two, but wound up with a 75.

WIDE OPEN: Peter Lonard finally got to a course where the fairways did not look like bowling alleys, and what happened?

"I hit it sideways," Lonard said.

The Aussie hit only five of 14 fairways at the TPC of Boston, but managed to sneak off with a 1-under 69 in the afternoon, when the wind was at its peak.

Lonard liked the golf course, especially the generous landing areas.

"I suppose everything looks wide after the last two weeks," he said, referring to the PGA Championship at Oak Hill and the NEC Invitational at Firestone.

Had he hit the ball this poorly off the tee at Oak Hill, "I would have shot 100."

"On narrow courses, I'm pretty good," he said. "As soon as I get on a wide one, I hit it all over the place."

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Copyright © 2003 All rights reserved.