Sport

Mahan makes early move in Pebble Beach as Harrington struggles

Hunter Mahan, who will defend his title at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in two weeks, got off…

Lee Westwood poses with his mother Trish and father John on the the fifth tee during the first round of the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California. Photograph: Getty Images
Lee Westwood poses with his mother Trish and father John on the the fifth tee during the first round of the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California. Photograph: Getty Images
Fri Feb 08 2013 - 00:00

Hunter Mahan, who will defend his title at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in two weeks, got off to a hot start at the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am yesterday.

Mahan birdied five of his first eight holes to trail leader Seung-Hol-Noh by a shot.

The South Korean was seven-under par after 16 holes at Spyglass Hill, one of the three courses the tournament is being played over.

Former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. Photograph: Getty Images
Former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. Photograph: Getty Images

The leader in the clubhouse was American Matt Every (Pebble Beach), on five under par, one ahead of England’s Lee Westwood, who opened with a 68, also at Pebble Beach.

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Americans Bob Estes (Spyglass Hill), Jeff Gove (Pebble Beach) and Kevin Stadler (Pebble Beach) ended the day on three-under par.

Russell Knox of Scotland (Monterey Peninsula) was on five under par after 16 holes, but fellow Celt Pádraig Harrington was finding it tough going at Spyglass Hill, lying on one-under par after 16 holes.

Spyglass Hills is traditionally the most difficult of the three courses. It averaged over par in 2012 (72.582).

Colombian Camilo Villegas was playing with actor Chris O’Donnell, star of NCIS: Los Angeles, at Monterey Peninsula and the pair were seven-under in the pro-am portion of the tournament and tied for the lead with five other groups.