Golden Goosen claims early lead in Akron

Retief Goosen was the early front-runner at Firestone Country Club today as the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational got under way in Akron, Ohio.

The South African covered the front nine of the 7,400-yard, par-70 South Course in a three-under-par 32, and had carded the fourth and fifth birdies of his opening round at the 10th and 11th holes to lead the morning starters in the 81-man field by a stroke at five under, having played 13 holes on a warm and sunny morning.

Goosen’s compatriot Tim Clark was at four under, starting from the 10th tee, having made the turn with a three birdie, one bogey 33 and then birdying the first and second holes.

Last weekend’s Canadian Open winner Chez Reavie continued his fine form in a group of four players on two under that also included Chad Campbell, Rocco Mediate, Rory Sabbatini and Vijay Singh.

Open champion Padraig Harrington, however, was struggling on his return to action following his Royal Birkdale triumph.

Harrington, who successfully defended his Open title with a four-shot victory ahead of Ian Poulter 11 days ago, had been hoping to shake off a little staleness after a week of celebrations at home in Ireland.

Instead, after a solid opening four holes from the 10th tee, he carded a double-bogey six at the 467-yard 14th hole to go two over par.

Harrington grabbed those shots back with successive birdies at the 16th and 17th holes only to bogey the 18th to turn for home in a one-over-par 36.

The rollercoaster continued with a bogey at the first and birdie at the second

Royal Birkdale runner-up Poulter also returned to action following the best major finish of his career to continue his bid for an automatic Ryder Cup place.

With five events to go, and lying just outside the qualifying places in both the world points list and the European points table, Poulter is hoping to secure his place within the next 14 days at the Bridgestone and next week’s final major of the year, the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, both of which are big points-scoring events.

The Englishman took a positive step towards his goal with a birdie at the par-three 15th, his sixth hole of the opening round.

A bogey five at the 400-yard 17th gave Poulter an outward even-par 35 before he got back on track with a birdie at the 526-yard, par-five second hole to leave him at one under after 14.

Had it not been for season-ending knee surgery last month, world number one Tiger Woods would have been bidding for a fourth Bridgestone title in a row and seventh overall.

Stewart Cink, one of the pre-tournament favourites and one of only four golfers to have broken Woods’ stranglehold on this event in its 10-year history, started brightly from the 10th tee with birdies at the 11th and 15th holes only to bogey 16 and the first to leave him even after 11 holes.

Another former Firestone champion, 2003 winner Darren Clarke, was one over playing with Harrington, while Colin Montgomerie was among those struggling to find form.

Starting at the 10th, the Scot recorded consecutive bogeys at 11, 12 and 13 to go out in a three-over-par 38 before a birdie at the 399-yard, par-four first clawed a shot back.