By Mark Lamport-Stokes
AKRON, Ohio Aug 2 (Reuters) – Plagued by back problems
since midway through last year, South African Retief Goosen
defied the pain barrier to surge into contention for the
WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Thursday.
The twice former U.S. Open champion thrived on the slick
greens at Firestone Country Club, shooting a three-under-par 67
in pursuit of a maiden victory in one of the elite World Golf
Championships (WGC) events.
Goosen, who has consulted several back specialists since
being troubled by two bulging disks, mixed six birdies with one
bogey and a double-bogey to put himself in the hunt for a first
PGA Tour victory in three years.
“I like this golf course,” the 43-year-old told reporters
after finishing one stroke off the early clubhouse lead. “For
some reason I putt better on quicker greens. I feel I can make a
better stroke when I just have to stroke it and not hit it.
“The greens are perfect here. If you hit it on the right
line, it’s good. But they’re also very tricky. There’s a lot of
break on them, so it’s hard to get the right lines, as well.”
Asked to assess his overall health, Goosen replied: “About
five out of 10. My physio is doing a good job keeping me on the
course at the moment and I am in discussions with a number of
doctors to see what options there are with the back.
“At the moment, we’ve just got to keep grinding away and
play well. I am struggling to keep the muscles from firing down
in the lower back. It’s been a struggle for the last year.”
Goosen, whose most recent PGA Tour victory came at the 2009
Transitions Championship, had to withdraw from the British Open
and PGA Championship last season before taking a few months off
towards the end of the year.
Continued…
