* Pettersson shoots 65 to set early pace
* Cabrera joint leader before play is suspended
(Updates after play is suspended for the day)
March 29 (Reuters) – Carl Pettersson rebounded from missed
cuts in his last two PGA Tour starts by charging into an early
tie for the lead in Thursday’s weather-hit opening round of the
Houston Open in Humble, Texas.
The 34-year-old Swede, putting superbly on the slick greens
at Redstone Golf Club, birdied five of his first eight holes on
the way to a seven-under-par 65 in the final tune-up event
before next week’s Masters.
Pettersson, a four-times champion on the U.S. circuit,
briefly got to eight under but bogeyed the par-four 17th before
finishing level with long-hitting Angel Cabrera of Argentina.
Americans Ricky Barnes and Jeff Maggert were a further
stroke back after opening with matching 66s before play was
suspended at 2:27 p.m. ET (1827 GMT) due to the threat of
lightning in the area.
More than an inch of rain saturated the course during the
afternoon and organisers later abandoned play for the day with
only 51 players having completed the opening round.
Among those who will resume, or start, round one on Friday
morning are defending champion Phil Mickelson, three-times major
winner Ernie Els and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
Pettersson, who reached the turn in five-under 31, was
delighted with his score after missing successive cuts at the
Transitions Championship and last week’s Arnold Palmer
Invitational.
Continued…
