Thursday 18 January 2018 16:40, UK
Sergio Garcia made a bright start in his first outing of the year as he earned a share of the first-round lead at the SMBC Singapore Open.
The Masters champion hit back from an early bogey to card a five-under 66, while Louis Oosthuizen lifted himself into a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with two holes remaining before play was suspended due to an approaching lightning storm at Sentosa Golf Club.
Garcia began at the 10th and soon dropped a shot at the 14th following a wayward drive, but he repaired the damage with a tap-in for birdie at the par-three 17th and followed that with an eagle at 18 after knocking a superb second to three feet.
The Spaniard picked up further shots at the second, fourth and seventh holes and parred in to stay at five under, earning him the clubhouse lead along with American qualifier Kurt Kitayama.
"I was one over after seven holes but it didn't feel like I was playing badly," said Garcia, who will return to the European Tour next week to defend his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title.
"But, I hit two good six-irons in a row on 17 and 18, where I made an eagle. That settled me a bit and I was able to play solidly over the back nine.
"I'll keep trusting myself. I'm really comfortable with the equipment that I have. The driver feels great and the ball is amazing. It's a matter of believing and being positive."
Oosthuizen, who lost out to Matteo Manassero in a play-off at Sentosa in 2012, was bogey-free for the day and had just rolled in his fifth birdie putt at the 16th when the remaining players on the course were called back to the clubhouse.
Thailand's Tirawat Kaewsiribandit is also at five under with two holes to complete when play resumes on Friday morning, while Casey O'Toole is two shots off the pace after a 68 which included a hole-in-one at the second.
The American holed out with a perfect 168-yard seven-iron which earned him a five-year membership to the Golden Circle chain of hotels worth 500,000 points.
"It was a good number for me with the wind," he said. "My caddie and I decided to hit three-quarter seven-iron and I hit it; it was solid. The ball landed just short of the hole and released right in. It was a really good shot.
"I just got engaged, so my fiancee will probably have a lot to say on how those points will be used!"
O'Toole is chasing one of the four places on offer for the 147th Open at Carnoustie in July, with the Singapore Open being the third event of 12 events in The Open Qualifying Series.
