Davis Love mastered the many emotions evoked by a tribute to Payne Stewart and emerged with a one-shot lead over Tiger Woods after 27 holes of the Tour Championship in Houston yesterday.
A memorial service for Stewart was held before the start of the tournament, which normally brings together the top 30 golfers on the USPGA Tour money list.
Love fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 64 at the Champions Club over the first 18 holes, then played the next nine holes at even-par.
Woods carded a 71 in the first round, then overcame a wrist injury suffered the second time he played the par-four 15th and closed out his next nine holes with a birdie on the par-four 18th. Carlos Franco of Paraguay, who was one shot behind Love after 18 holes, fell into a third-place tie with Fred Funk and Steve Pate at five-under.
Mark O'Meara and Fred Couples have joined the US absentees from next week's 3 million WGC American Express Championship at Valderrama. Apparently they share the view of world number two David Duval, who believes the event is simply too far away and too late in the season.
