Louis Oosthuizen continued his good relationship with the SMBC Singapore Open as he joined Sergio Garcia and American Kurt Kitayama at the top before the suspension of round one due to inclement weather.
Oosthuizen was bogey-free and looking for a strong finish on Thursday as he looks to add a win to his recent runner-up and third place finishes at this event.
The 2010 Open champion was on the 17th green in regulation when the hooter sounded to end the day’s play. Oosthuizen, forced to withdraw from the Joburg Open, made birdies at the 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th and 16th to join Garcia and Monday qualifier Kitayama at the top of the leaderboard at the Sentosa Golf Club.
Followed by a big gallery at Sentosa Golf Club, Masters champion Garcia got into his stride around the turn after a slow start that included a bogey at the 15th hole (his sixth of the day after starting at the 10th on the Serapong Course).
Garcia converted an 18-inch birdie putt at the par-three 17th after a brilliant tee shot and then eagled the par-five 18th from three feet after a great approach.
Garcia, whose appearance here last year was a precursor to a golden year that included his first Major win and two other victories, kept up the momentum with birdies at the 2nd and 4th holes.
He missed a five footer for eagle at the 14th but the tap in birdie took him to five under par for the day – the score he finished on after four rounds last year when he tied for 11th.
‘It’s a great course to start the year with, and I’m very pleased in the way I handled it,’ said Garcia, who is ranked 10th in the world.
‘I was one-over after seven but it didn’t feel like I was playing badly.
‘But then I hit two great shots in a row at the 17th and 18th. I got a birdie-eagle there, so that settled me a little bit and I played solid on the back nine. It was a great round.’
Casey O’Toole grabbed his own share of the headlines when he aced the second hole before signing for a 68. O’Toole, who missed the cut last year, won a five year Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Golden Circle membership.
World No 16 Pat Perez was two over with three holes to play.
Photo: Getty Images
