Date: July 25, 2008
Author:

Norman has plenty to do

Greg Norman found life tough going in the first round of the Senior Open Championship as Bruce Vaughan and Eduardo Romero established a one-shot lead at Royal Troon. Norman, 53, turned back the clock in sensational fashion in The Open at Birkdale last week, leading going into the final round before finishing third. However, the Australian could only manage a four-over-par 75 – seven shots adrift of Vaughan and Romero&aposs three-under total. “Things just weren&apost going my way early on,” said Norman. “I just had to hang in there and guts it out the best I could. The ball just wasn&apost rolling my way. There&aposs more than one round in a golf tournament.” Sandy Lyle, who pulled out midway through his first round at The Open because of the poor weather conditions, carded the same score as Norman. England&aposs Nick Job is among a group of four players one off the lead after a 69 while Bernhard Langer and Irishman Mark McNulty are both one-under along with defending champion Tom Watson. The leading Australians are 1990 US PGA winner Wayne Grady and New South Welshman David Merriman at three-over. First Round Scores from the Senior British Open, Royal Troon Scotland -3: Eduardo Romero 68, Bruce Vaughan 68 -2: Andy Bean 69, John Cook 69, Kirk Hanefield 69, Nick Job 69 -1: Gene Jones 70, Bernhard Langer 70, Mark McNulty 70, John Morse 70, Joey Sindelar 70, Tom Watson 70 Ev: John Bland 71, Eamonn Darcy 71, Tony Johnstone 71 Also: +3: Wayne Grady (Australia) 74, David Merriman (Australia) 74 +4: Greg Norman (Australia) 75 +5: Noel Ratcliffe (Australia) 76, Jim Lapsley (New Zealand) 76 +7: Terry Gale (Australia) 78, David Good (Australia) 78, Simon Owen (New Zealand) 78 +10: Bob Charles (New Zealand) 81 +12: Ossie Moore (Australia) 83