GOLF NEWS US TOUR:South Africa's Trevor Immelman puts his credentials as US Masters champion to their first test in the Byron Nelson Championship in Dallas today.
Immelman will be looking to wrest the title from Texan Scott Verplank, who had an emotional victory at his hometown event last year shortly after his mentor Nelson had passed away.
World number one and former Nelson champion Tiger Woods, second behind Immelman at Augusta, is missing the tournament after having knee surgery early last week.
The highest-ranked player in the tournament is world number 10 Adam Scott of Australia. Sickness forced Scott to withdraw after an early lead in the Houston Open three weeks ago and he had a disappointing performance in the Masters.
The absences are mainly due to top players still resting after the season's first major and a wait-and-see attitude on the new Las Colinas course which replaced an older and much disliked layout.
The players and their caddies only had their first look at the renovated course this week, although early impressions have been positive.
"The holes that were good on this golf course, he didn't mess with, and the holes that needed improvement, like the first hole, are much better," said former champion Ted Purdy, referring to designer and long-time pro D A Weibring.
CHALLENGE TOUR:Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey struck a hole-in-one and matched playing partner Joakim Haeggman of Sweden birdie for birdie en route to a share of the clubhouse lead on 66 after day one of the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne.
Hoey, seeking his third Challenge Tour title, received a pat on the back from former Ryder Cup player Haeggman after he aced the par three 15th.
Hoey, who was a member of the triumphant 2001 Walker Cup team, said: "I thought to myself when I got on to the tee it would be a nice opportunity for a hole-in-one, and so it proved.
"The hole was only 120 yards long, so I hit a sand wedge. It pitched just beyond the flag and spun back into the cup. That capped a really pleasing round, especially since I'd got off to a fairly shaky start."
Bryon Nelson
Course:TPC Las Colinas, Irving, Texas
Length:7,166 yards.
Par:70.
Prize money:€6.4million, €1,152,000
for the winner
Field:156.
Defending champion:Scott Verplank
First played:1968 - winner, Miller Barber.
Most wins:Tom Watson (4).
On TV:Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Golf.
Weather:Clear and 25 degrees Celsius - chance of
rain towards the weekend.
