It was an aggravating first round for the world number one Tiger Woods when he began the defence of his European Tournament Players title at Gut Kaden yesterday.
First the combination of an early start, blustery wind, and a posse of souvenir hunters pegged him to a two-under-par 70. Then the golfer who gave him more trouble than any other European last year promised a repetition by demonstrating that straight hitting can be a more potent force than the latest product of spaceage technology.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, the Spanish Ryder Cup player who took Woods into extra-time in the World Strokeplay Championship at Valderrama last November, opened up a three-stroke advantage on the American with a 67, a 50-foot putt at the 18th providing him with his fourth birdie in the last six holes.
A shot behind were the British Open champion Paul Lawrie, Roger Chapman and South Africa's Retief Goosen, while Jean Van de Velde (69) and the inform Jesper Parnevik (70) also put down impressive early markers.
But for Colin Montgomerie there was only frustration, both on the greens and off the tee. Apart from the birdies with which he began each half, his putter was lukewarm, and his controversial Callaway ERC driver failed to provide the turbo-power he anticipated.
The European number one had put the club in his bag for the first time with the intention of attacking the par fives. A bogey-six and three pars was a poor return, as was his 73.
In contrast Woods was five under for the long holes, claiming three birdies and an eagle at the 17th where he chipped in from pin-high. Had he not dropped shots at his first two holes Woods would have scaled greater heights before he headed to the city centre to hit shots at a sponsors party - from the top of an office block.
Instead the amateur photographers who are a permanent feature of golf in Germany continued to upset his concentration and that of partners Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood. Some of the official ones also contributed to the distractions by continually changing position on the fairways.
"I understand that spectators want a record of their day out with me," he said, "but it's very distracting." Woods would like them all kept within an arm's length of the ropes, as is the custom in the United States.
There were no such problems for Jimenez who drew immense confidence in his feat of matching Woods over 72 holes in the first of the new World events to be played in Europe before succumbing to a birdie at the 73rd.
"I knew then I could win the big events and that all it needed was to add work and the mentality, then shake the cocktail well," he said.
Chapman and Goosen also have a new perspective on the game, having recently undergone laser treatment to correct eyesight problems, while Lawrie found a trio of twos a major help in shrugging off the distractions that accompany any outing with Bernhard Langer on his home soil.
Darren Clarke had a level-par 72 while Padraig Harrington lies on 73, disappointed with aspects of his play, but certain this time that he did sign his scorecard.
On Sunday Harrington was disqualified when five clear in the Benson and Hedges International Open when it came to light he had forgotten to add his signature to his opening round.
Jose Maria Olazabal was the man to take advantage then, but a double-bogey six at the last for a 75 has given the Spaniard a much tougher task. However, he also began with a 75 a week ago.
