Leonard, Goydos share Texas Open lead

Friday, May 15, 2009 at 1:51 AM Posted by Beijing News


Three-time champion Justin Leonard and unheralded Paul Goydos fired seven-under par 63s on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the 6.1 million-dollar USPGA Texas Open.

Goydos, who hadn't captured a first-round lead since 1999, made eight birdies before his final drive sailed into a fairway bunker and cost him a shot.

"I mean, you can't have everything good happen for every moment of your life," said the 44-year-old, who teed off early and nabbed six birdies on the front nine.

He topped the leaderboard alone for much of the day until Leonard birdied three of his last four holes.

"When you tee off and you're seven shots back, I felt the need that I've got to make birdies because I don't want to have this huge deficit after one round," Leonard said. "I was able to get off to a great start. From then, being able to stay patient and give myself opportunities, I did a good of that today."

Goydos took some time off earlier this year after his ex-wife, Wendy, died unexpectedly in January.

She had fought drug addiction linked to her long battle with severe migraine headaches, and Goydos just this month publicly discussed her death and the changes to his life with their two teenage daughters.

"We're all going to go through difficult times," Goydos said. "I've been on tour for 17 years. I'm sure there's plenty of other people who've been on tour for 17 years who have had difficult times."

Jeff Maggert, Australian Marc Leishman and Ted Purdy shared third on 64, with England's Brian Davis and Greg Owen a further stroke back on 65.

Former major champions David Duval, Lee Janzen and Corey Pavin were among a group of eight players three off the pace on 66 - for Duval his best round since January of 2007.

Defending champion Zach Johnson, who lifted the trophy here last October before tournament was moved to its new calendar spot, was among a group on 68.

Th Texas Open is the third-oldest tournament on the PGA Tour, but for years has languished on the autumn schedule - when viewership dwindles after the completion of all four major championship.

In it's new slot it makes up the first leg of a new Texas Swing, which will continue with the Byron Nelson Championship and Colonial.

More changes are in store next year, when the event moves from La Cantera to a Greg Norman-designed TPC course nearby.





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