Tiger yet to roar in Hamburg

Tiger Woods saw playing partners Padraig Harrington and Angel Cabrera hole early long birdie putts when the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open began at Gut Kaden in Hamburg today.

The world number one, chasing a third successive victory in the event, had to settle for four opening pars on a cool morning, but Cabrera made a 20-footer at the 420-yard 10th – their first – and Harrington converted a 25-foot chance on the 434-yard 12th.

The Dubliner, runner-up for the 19th time in his career on Sunday at the Benson & Hedges International Open at The Belfry, then birdied the 366-yard 13th as well to join Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin in the joint lead.

Colin Montgomerie was another to birdie the 10th as the players confronted greens which during the winter were attacked by a disease known as Fusarium patch.

The problem was not acknowledged as severe by European Tour officials, but sufficiently bad to force a late change of venue for an event which for the last two years has been held further south in Heidelberg.

After consulting the Royal & Ancient Club, golf’s governing body, a local rule was introduced to allow the moving of balls which come to rest in affected areas.

Preferred lies were also being allowed on the fairways after the heavy rain which forced the eve-of-tournament pro-am to be abandoned in mid-afternoon.

Lee Westwood – twice a winner on the course, but without a top 10 finish for approaching two years – matched Woods’ four initial pars, missing a six-foot chance on the 12th.

His playing partner Ian Woosnam made birdie from a fairway bunker at the 10th and remained one under after four, but Darren Clarke kicked off with a bogey.